The United States on Friday formally introduced a resolution asking the United Nations Security Council to lift the 13-year old economic and financial sanctions against Iraq and give Washington and London sweeping powers to run the country for at least one year.

The resolution, introduced by American Ambassador John Negroponte a month after the fall of President Saddam Hussein regime, gives limited role to the United Nations and asks the 'oil-for-food' programme, run the by the world body, to be phased out in four months.

The council members are expected to send the resolution to their respective capitals later on Friday and an intense debate will start early next week.

Russia, France and China are expected to challenge some of the provisions of the draft, which was described by several ambassador as complex. It requires a careful study, they said.

Moscow and Paris are expected to have reservations about the provision, which gives Washington and London wide powers to the run the country especially as it provides automatic extension of their rule unless the council decides otherwise.

To decide 'otherwise', the council must adopt a fresh resolution which the US and Britain could veto.