Visiting French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin on Wednesday urged the occupying forces in Iraq to ensure a quick return of sovereignty to Iraqis.

"The hand-over of sovereignty must take place as soon as possible. Once that is done, the actual responsibility will have to be transferred gradually to a provisional Iraqi government," de Villepin said in central London when delivered a BBC annual lecture aimed at commemorating the distinguished broadcaster Richard Dimbleby.

De Villepin, who earlier in the day met with British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw for talks on the European Union Constitution and other issues, also called on the United States and Britain to recognize the ability of the Iraqi people to take responsibility for their own destiny.

"Let us not underestimate the ability of the Iraqi people to take responsibility for their own destiny. Reform has to come from within. It must not be dictated from outside. We would be seriously mistaken if we thought democracy could be exported," the French foreign minister said.

De Villepin's speech came amid reports that a vote on a new US draft resolution on Iraq's future was still expected to go ahead at the United Nations.

In a fresh attempt to remove discontent of key UN Security Council members in order to make more countries contribute troops and money to rebuild Iraq, the United States offered on Oct. 12 further amendments to its draft resolution on Iraq, setting a Dec.15 deadline for fixing a timetable for the return of the Iraqi sovereignty.

France, together with Russia and Germany, which also opposed the US-led war against Iraq, on Tuesday offered amendments to the new US draft resolution, calling on the occupying powers to consult with the Iraqis and the United Nations to set a timetable on the transfer of the Iraqi sovereignty.

The United States, which has insisted that transfer of power to a provisional Iraqi government can not be rushed, is now sticking with its original text that calls on the coalition "to return governing responsibilities and authorities to the people of Iraq as soon as practicable."

(Xinhua News Agency October 16, 2003)