Condoleezza Rice to consider Russia's initiative on international conference on Iraq

US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice has agreed to consider Russia's initiative to hold an international conference on power transfer in Iraq, US administration officials have told The Washington Post.

Ms Rice agreed to consider the proposal, but made no assurances on this score, according to American officials.

In an earlier interview with NTV television's Namedni program, Ms Rice described her Moscow visit as very successful.

"I think we, the United States and Russia, share a common understanding of how we should move forward," Ms Rice said as she spoke about her meetings with top Russian officials.

Although pointing to certain differences, Ms Rice said that "everyone agrees that the most important thing at the moment is to give Iraq stability and pass a UN Security Council resolution." "I hope we will be able to prepare the text of this resolution with help of our Russian partners" among others, said Ms Rice.

The Washington Post writes the United States has not, thus far, drafted its version of the resolution as it is waiting for recommendations from the UN Secretary General's special envoy Lakdar Brahimi who is currently in Iraq.