China proposed on Wednesday major amendments to the US-British draft resolution on Iraq, including a clear mandate and duration for the US-led multinational force as well as a mechanism of consultation on its major operations after the June 30 transfer of power to Iraqis.

In a three-page paper, China said that the multinational force's mandate shall expire in January 2005 in keeping with the timetable of Iraqi political process, and its extension should have the consent of the new Iraqi government and be decided by the Security Council.

The paper, put forward at closed-door consultations of the 15-nation council, also calls for establishing a mechanism of consultations between the force, mainly composed of American troops, and the Iraqi interim government on its military actions except for self-defense.

"The interim government of Iraq shall have its say on the security matter with responsibility to control the Iraqi army and police force," the paper says.

The United States and Britain introduced a draft measure on Iraq on Monday, seeking the Security Council's endorsement for the Iraqi power transfer and its authorization of the continued stay of the multinational force in Iraq after June 30.

But the text does not give a timetable for the withdrawal of the force. It only stipulates that the force's mandate would be reviewed one year later or at the request of Iraqis.

Likewise, the draft does not mention whether the new Iraqi government would have full control of its army, and have a say on the multinational force's actions.