The United Nations Security Council on Thursday overwhelmingly adopted a US-drafted resolution to welcome the establishment of the Iraqi Governing Council.

The measure, cosponsored by Britain, Spain, Cameroon, Bulgaria, Chile and Angola, was passed in a vote of 14 to 0, with Syria, the only Arab nation on the council, abstaining.

The resolution also authorized the creation of a 300-member United Nations Assistance Mission to coordinate the UN's activities in Iraq.

(Xinhua News Agency August 15, 2003)