It would give the U.S. and U.K. an open-ended mandate to stay in Iraq and run the country until a new Iraqi government is formed, which could take years.

It also gives the two countries control of Iraq's oil revenues to finance the country's reconstruction.

The draft resolution would give the Security Council no say in how long the occupation of Iraq will last.

Russian UN ambassador Sergei Lavrov wants to see time limits on the U.S.-led occupation.

"We think that the role of the Security Council in overseeing the reconstruction of Iraq should be clear," said Lavrov.

UN Secretary General Kofi Anna sent his lawyers to the Council meeting to clarify the role of the UN special representative outlined in the resolution.

As described in the draft resolution, the role of the UN representative would be largely advisory.

U.S. officials said the many questions and concerns brought up in the Council meeting were just "technical" matters.