The United States introduced a resolution asking the United Nations to approve the creation of a multinational force in Iraq.

ECONOMIST: After the bomb

America said all 32 countries in the multinational force in Iraq had agreed to make no further concessions to hostage takers .

ECONOMIST: Rapid reaction

Deputy State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said the multinational force in Iraq and the Bush administration's Iraq Survey Group had been ordered to investigate the disappearance of the explosives.

CNN: Tons of Iraq explosives missing

General DAVID PETRAEUS (Commander, Multinational Force Iraq): The operational environment in Iraq is the most complex and challenging I have ever seen.

NPR: Gen. Petraeus Sees 'Vastly More Work' to Do in Iraq

Washington has presented a draft resolution to the UN Security Council in an attempt to secure a multinational force for Iraq and boost UN involvement in the country's political future.

BBC: Bush attacked over Iraq policy

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal, suggested that a multinational force from Muslim countries could help to keep the peace in Iraq , whose interim government enthusiastically cited Malaysia, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Tunisia and Yemen as likely participants.

ECONOMIST: Rapid reaction

Turning to security for the United Nations in Iraq, he said that the distinct entities of the Multinational Force, notably the Georgians, Romanians and South Koreans, continued to provide security for the United Nations in Baghdad, Basra and Erbil, respectively.

UN: Security Council