Children presented European leaders with olive branches

European Union leaders have said the United Nations must play a central role in rebuilding Iraq.

A statement issued at a summit in Athens also says that US-led troops have a responsibility to restore stability, and reaffirms that European countries are ready to help to play a significant role in Iraq's reconstruction.

The BBC's Bridget Kendall says the statement could be an important first step towards bridging the bitter divisions in Europe over Iraq.

The UN must play a central role, including in the process leading towards self-government for the Iraqi people... EU statement Click here for full text

However, she says British officials are pointing out that the statement calls for the UN to play "a" central role, not "the" central role - and that diplomats have yet to discussed any specifics.

The Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis, who chaired the meeting, said much remained to be negotiated with the Americans.

Talks with Kofi Annan

The EU leaders also restated their commitment to make the Israeli/Palestinian peace process a success, and welcomed the appointment of a UN special adviser in Iraq.

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The statement was issued on Thursday, a day after the historic signing of an accession treaty, paving the way for the largest expansion of the EU in its history.

If the treaty is successfully ratified, 10 new members, mostly from the former communist bloc, will join the EU in May 2004.

The text of the statement was agreed with foreign ministers from all the countries represented on the United Nations Security Council, including Russia.

They met on Wednesday night with UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, who is reported to have insisted that the UN could not be subordinate to the US and the UK.

Correspondents say a number of European countries share this view, but Washington and London argue that having fought the war in Iraq they have the right to lead the reconstruction.

Friendly conversation

The deepest faultline over Iraq in the EU has been between the UK and Spain, which support the war, and France and Germany, which have vigorously opposed it.

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and French President Jacques Chirac are reported to have had a long and friendly conversation in Athens, before Mr Blair made an early departure and rushed back to London.

The Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi complained that the text of the statement on Iraq had not been properly discussed by ministers of the 15 EU governments.

A number of the governments whose leaders were present in Athens have been pledging troops for a peacekeeping force that would operate outside the auspices of the EU and Nato.

Denmark is considering leading a force including personnel from Poland and the Baltic states.