French President Jacques Chirac Thursday expressed doubts on whether the UN Security Council would adopt a resolution to confirm a power transfer from the US-led coalition to a new Iraqi government.

Chirac, who gave a rare news conference on the eve of the European Union's expansion on May 1, said he was not sure if Europe will speak with a single voice on the power transfer issue, referring to the "fracture" between European countries in the Iraqi war.

He doubted whether different proposals on the Iraq issue can be translated into an international decision that "is sufficiently clear and firm that it can be adopted by the Security Council and serve as a basis for political, economic and social reconstruction in Iraq."

"Europe, I am sure, will approve the propositions of the UN special envoy (Lakhdar) Brahimi" on the formation of an interim government in Iraq, Chirac said.

Brahimi has proposed an interim Iraqi government to be chosen by the UN, the current Governing Council, the coalition and a group of Iraqi judges.

A number of top US officials suggested earlier that the US is only prepared to hand over "limited sovereignty" to the Iraqis at the end of June.

Paris hopes the sovereignty restoration will be "rapid, real, complete and visible" and will lead to an effective power transfer for the benefit of the Iraqi people, Chirac said.

Source: Xinhua