The resolution was virtually assured of the minimum nine votes needed for adoption in the 15-member UN Security Council, where none of major powers have threatened a veto.

But France, Germany and Russia, who submitted amendments calling for a timetable to end the occupation, may abstain, along with China and Syria, thereby lessening the impact of the resolution.

Russia was making one last attempt to get changes in the draft and requested consultations before any formal meeting later on Wednesday. Asked if there was any hope for further changes, Moscow's UN ambassador, Sergei Lavrov, said, "The hope dies last."

China's UN ambassador Wang Guangya told reporters the council should not be sending mixed signals to the region by a split vote. "A good resolution should have support from all council members," he said.

On Tuesday, France, Russia and Germany, which opposed the war in Iraq, submitted six amendments. But they dropped previous crucial demands that the United Nations play a central role in Iraq's reconstruction and that a provisional Iraqi government take office within five months.

Still, the United States and Britain, while incorporating some suggestions, refused to yield power to a provisional Iraqi government in the coming months.

"I think we have made every effort possible to take into account the views of various delegations," said US Ambassador John Negroponte. "Let there be no doubt about it, it is our intention to encourage this political process to move forward as rapidly as possible."

With President Bush under pressure from the growing cost of the Iraq occupation in U.S. lives and money, the resolution could pave the way for other nations to contribute troops and cash,