The United States scored a major diplomatic victory on Thursday when the UN Security Council unanimously adopted its resolution on Iraq aimed at setting the nation on the road to democracy

Just days after Washington said it might abandon attempts to get the council’s support, the United States won a 15-0 vote as last-minute haggling won grudging approval from wary nations sceptical about the US plan. The resolution creates a UN-authorised multinational force in Iraq under the US leadership in an effort to recruit troops from Pakistan and other nations wary of serving the occupation. But several key nations said that they were still not fully satisfied with the resolution, which was hammered out over six weeks of negotiations that saw the United States come under intense criticism over Iraq’s future. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who had been one of the most vocal critics of the initial US versions, hailed the often-divided council for being able to find common ground. "The outcome is a clear demonstration of the will of all the members of the Security Council to place the interests of the Iraqi people above all other considerations," said Annan, who watched the vote. "Our common objective is to restore peace and stability to a sovereign, democratic and independent Iraq as quickly as possible." The United States hopes the resolution, which authorises a multinational force in Iraq, will convince nations to contribute troops and money to help keep the peace and rebuild the war-battered country.