The international community vowed on Thursday to support the newly established interim Iraqi government.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said its formal recognition of the new interim Iraqi government is "imminent."

IMF spokesman Thomas Dawson indicated in a press briefing that the recognition of the new Iraqi government would be made after consultation with key countries in the 184-nation international lending institution, saying the process should be completed "in the very near future."

The IMF said late last year that it could supply between 2.5 billion to 4.25 billion US dollars to Iraq over the next three years.

The World Bank has also indicated that it was prepared to lend Iraq between 3 billion and 5 billion dollars over the next five years.

On Tuesday, the World Bank, which is owed 100 million dollars by Iraq, said it had recognized the interim government.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw called on the international community to come forward quickly to help rebuild Iraq.

"Alongside the 30 nations contributing to the multinational forces, all of Iraq's friends in the international community, as many of them have been acknowledging, have a vital role to play in helping the new government to build stability," he said.

Straw also welcomed Iraq's envoy to Britain, Salah Shaikhly.

"The handover of authority to that (interim) government last Monday, ahead of schedule, was a milestone of profound importance for the Iraqi people," he told Shaikhly, whose position as Iraqi charge d'affaires restores relations between Britain and Iraq after a gap of 13 years.

"You are here as the representative of a new, sovereign government in Iraq which is accountable to its people and at peace with its neighbors," he added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent congratulations to new Iraqi President Ghazi Yawar.

"I am sure that your activities in this high post will aid the process of establishing peace and security in the region and providing sovereignty and legal rights for the Iraqi people," Putin was quoted by the presidential press service as saying in the letter.

"I hope that Russian-Iraqi relations will develop further, for the good of our countries' people," Putin said.

In Damascus, Syrian Information Minister Ahmad al-Hasan said it was necessary for his country to strengthen relations with Iraq in all fields following the power handover.

The minister made the remarks while meeting with an Iraqi non-governmental organization delegation headed by its Secretary General Aqeel al-Khatib, who is also editor-in-chief of the Iraqi daily al-Aayan.

Hasan stressed Syria's support to the Iraqi people in bringing back their complete sovereignty and maintaining their national unity.

On Monday, the interim Iraqi government led by President Yawar and Prime Minister Iyad Allawi was officially sworn in, hours after taking over sovereignty from the US-led coalition.