The newspaper quoted a senior US official who spoke on condition of anonymity as saying that the council could be formed within about six weeks.

The official, who spoke to a group of reporters in Baghdad, said the shift in plans from a conference to an appointed council was driven by "an enormous and complicated agenda" for the reconstruction of Iraq, the newspaper reported.

Iraqi political groups anxious for a greater say in running their country had expected a national conference to create a US-supervised transitional authority.

Citing the unnamed senior official, the Post reported that the US occupation authority now planned instead to handpick 25 to 30 Iraqis to advise US officials on day-to-day governance issues.

The official told the newspaper that the council would be selected by the US and British governments, but would be chosen "through a process of consultation" with Iraqis.

"We are asking the Iraqis with whom we are in contact for their suggestions for who should be involved in this process," the official was quoted as saying.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Ryan Crocker briefed representatives of seven formerly exiled political groups about the planned council on Sunday in Baghdad, The Washington Post reported.

The newspaper said the participants included the Iraqi National Congress, which is headed by Ahmed Chalabi, the Shiite-dominated Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq and two Kurdish political parties.