Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

France says it would support what the foreign minister calls a "real international force" in Iraq, but it is not clear if an idea floated by the U.S. administration goes far enough to gain U.N. backing.

French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin said Thursday that simply expanding the multinational force under U.S. and British command in Iraq would not be enough.

He did not respond directly to a proposal by the U.S. deputy secretary of state, Richard Armitage, for a multinational force endorsed by the United Nations and commanded by a U.S. general.

The statement marked the first time U.S. officials have said they may be willing to give the United Nations a leadership role in Iraq. Mr. Armitage says the idea is one among many being considered.

The top U.S. commander in Iraq, Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, was quoted by the Associated Press as saying there is no need for more American troops in Iraq. He blamed continuing violence on insufficient intelligence and limited cooperation from Iraqis.

The United States has been exploring ways to share responsibility for peacekeeping and rebuilding in Iraq. Several countries including France, which opposed the U.S. led war, have ruled out sending troops to the region unless the United Nations is in charge.

In fighting in Iraq, meanwhile, a British soldier was killed and another wounded Wednesday night in an incident near the southern Iraqi city of Basra. Officials say the solider was killed when his patrol came under fire from a crowd of Iraqis during a standoff. Ten Iraqis were arrested following the incident.

Eleven British soldiers have now been killed by hostile fire since major combat was declared over on May 1.

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.