¡¡¡¡UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 14 (Xinhuanet) -- United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said on Tuesday that the new United States draft resolution on Iraq did not represent "a major shift" in the position of the occupying coalition.

¡¡¡¡"Obviously, the current resolution does not represent a major shift in the thinking of the coalition," he told reporters upon his arrival at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

¡¡¡¡But Annan, who stands for a quick transfer of the Iraqi sovereignty, said that the latest draft did take into account views of critics of its two previous versions.

¡¡¡¡"However, I am grateful that they have taken into view, into account, some of my preoccupations," he said, adding that he wouldimplement any resolution the Security Council might adopt bearing in mind the constraints on the world body.

¡¡¡¡Annan made the statement while the Security Council was holdingconsultations on a revised version of the US-sponsored draft resolution on Iraq, which would authorize the deployment of a multinational force in the country.

¡¡¡¡The UN chief reiterated his call on the US-led coalition to hand over power to Iraqis as soon as possible so as to help reduceresistance and restore peace and stability in the country.

¡¡¡¡"As long as there was an occupation in Iraq, the resistance would grow," he said.

¡¡¡¡Asked to comment on the status of the US-appointed Iraqi Governing Council, Annan said "the resolution says the occupying power is the authority and is the government, and in my judgment, the occupying power will remain a government whether this resolution is passed or not until such a time when the power is fully handed over to the Iraqis."

¡¡¡¡He expressed the hope that the drafters would work with other members of the Security Council to get as broad support as possible.

¡¡¡¡The new draft, circulated by Washington over the weekend and co-sponsored by Britain and Spain, gives the Iraqi Governing Council until Dec. 15 to fix a timetable for the drafting of a new constitution and the holding of elections. But it maintains that the transfer of the Iraqi sovereignty be done in a "progressive" manner.

¡¡¡¡Annan, along with some key Security Council members, has calledfor a radical change in the US approach to post-war Iraq. His strong objection to the second revised US draft has dealt a heavy blow to the US diplomatic efforts to get a new resolution on Iraq.

¡¡¡¡On the situation in the Middle East, Annan said the Security Council should be seen evenhanded, and should urge the two partiesconcerned to move forward to settle their differences and return to the negotiation table. Enditem