China has proposed major amendments to the US-British draft resolution on Iraq, including a clear mandate and duration for the US-led multinational force.

In a three-page paper, China said that the multinational force's mandate shall expire in January 2005 in keeping with the timetable of Iraqi political process.

Its extension should have the consent of the new Iraqi government and be decided by the Security Council.

The paper, put forward at closed-door consultations of the 15-nation council, also calls for establishing a mechanism of consultations between the force, mainly composed of American troops, and the Iraqi interim government on its military actions except for self-defense.

The United States and Britain introduced a draft measure on Iraq on Monday, seeking the Security Council's endorsement for the Iraqi power transfer and its authorization of the continued stay of the multinational force in Iraq after June 30.