France has raised its voice for faster transfer of sovereignty to the Iraqis in an emergency process as the Americans live a setback of its policy in Iraq.

On Thursday morning, French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin said in Paris "France is holding out its hand to our American friends" while insisting on the constant position that the Iraqi sovereignty must be the point of departure.

"We have shown our constant willingness to put forward ideas to our American friends since the start of this tragic crisis. We have always told them what we thought was the right way," he said.

"There are some American representatives on the ground who continue to hold the old, typical language used by all ... occupation governments: We need a little more time. Well time, sadly, means more people dead," he said.

In the afternoon, de Villepin launched a proposal of faster transfer of sovereignty by setting up a consultative assembly to choose or elect a provisional government rather than by creating conditions for electoral process.

He suggested that a handover be achieved in an emergency process by the end of this year, much faster than the summer 2004 timetable Washington appears to envisage.

Under UN Security Council resolution 1511 voted through last month, the US-appointed governing council in Iraq has till Dec. 15to draw up a timetable for a new constitution and elections leading to a democratic government.

De Villepin also suggested a special envoy of the United Nations secretary-general be sent to work in Iraq alongside Paul Bremer, the American representative.

The French minister made these remarks amid reports predicting that mounting problems were forcing the United States toward a turning point in its handling of Iraq.

Reports also said the French opposition to the US-led war and firmness on Iraqi sovereignty, which angered the Americans in the past months, are now better accepted across the Atlantic.

"The French point of view on Iraq is no longer taboo in Washington," commented French daily Le Monde in its Thursday's edition.

In contrast to the American re-baptism of "French fries" to "freedom fries" eight months ago to protest Paris' hostility towards George W. Bush's policy on Iraq, the French position is now received differently as the Americans met serious difficulties on the ground, said the paper.

"The French were right," it cited influential American magazine The National Journal which said this week that France had judged the Iraqi issue correctly on three points.

Firstly, the existence in Iraq of weapons of mass destruction --the threat cited by Washington and London to legitimate the war --is still unproven.

Secondly, the Americans were not welcome in Iraq as liberators and thirdly, the Muslim world saw their intervention as an aggression.

The Bush administration now seems to seriously consider the French position to reestablish the Iraqi sovereignty in the country, "even in a symbolic way," said Le Monde.

Washington's shift of position came as resistance forces fighting US and allied troops in Iraq reinforced with increasingly bold and deadly attacks on American and allied troops and other targets.

Signs of a similar shift were witnessed in London. "What is certainly being looked at is how we are able to transfer more authority to the Iraqi people more swiftly," said British Foreign Minister Jack Straw, who is currently in the United States for talks on the situation in Iraq.

As French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said Monday, the situation is very difficult for Bush in Iraq as well in his own country, where the election campaign is to start.

"If he pulls out, he gives the impression of a defeat; if he stays, he risks getting stuck," said Alliot-Marie.

And for French and other Westerners, "We have no interest at all in case of a defeat of the West in Iraq," she said.

"I can no longer accept to see so many deaths of Americans, British, Spanish, Polish and Italians every day. I can not accept that this litany will be amplified and prolonged day after day," said de Villepin on Thursday.

"Today we are ready to take part in any meeting, any consultation. Our hand is held out to our American friends because the challenge affects us all. The security of the world is at stake," he said.

He listed three conditions for reconstruction of Iraq to be successful: collective approach led by the United Nations; through political means instead of military ones and in a global way which means the Iraqi crisis cannot be resolved without taking into consideration of the Middle East crisis.

Washington did not immediately react to Paris' suggestion. It claimed to remain determined to get its job done in Iraq, denying any possibility of pulling out while trying to maintain support among allies for the occupation.

In response, London said it stands firm on sending more troops to Iraq if Washington considers necessary though the conditions to guarantee the security of foreign troops hardly exist on the ground.

(Xinhua News Agency November 14, 2003)