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US Secretary of State Colin Powell has insisted that US forces in Iraq will remain under American control after the 30 June handover of sovereignty.
Mr Powell said that while the Americans would consult the Iraqi authorities, US military units would do whatever was necessary to protect themselves.
This seemed to contradict an earlier statement by the UK prime minister.
Tony Blair said the new Iraqi government would have "final political control" on military operations.
BBC News Online world affairs correspondent Paul Reynolds says that the apparent differences between Washington and London in part reflect the differing political needs in each capital.
The British want to boost the status of the interim government, while the Americans want to emphasise the right of the multinational force to remain under its own command.
The exact policy is due to be addressed in an exchange of letters between the interim government and the coalition which will lay out the terms under which the troops will stay, our correspondent adds.
BBC Read More
Mr Powell said that while the Americans would consult the Iraqi authorities, US military units would do whatever was necessary to protect themselves.
This seemed to contradict an earlier statement by the UK prime minister.
Tony Blair said the new Iraqi government would have "final political control" on military operations.
BBC News Online world affairs correspondent Paul Reynolds says that the apparent differences between Washington and London in part reflect the differing political needs in each capital.
The British want to boost the status of the interim government, while the Americans want to emphasise the right of the multinational force to remain under its own command.
The exact policy is due to be addressed in an exchange of letters between the interim government and the coalition which will lay out the terms under which the troops will stay, our correspondent adds.
BBC Read More
