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Russia begins talks on U.S. proposal

MOSCOW - Saying it will continue to push for a central U.N. role in Iraq, Russia on Saturday began consulting with other Security Council members over a proposed U.S. plan that relegates the United Nations to a largely advisory role.

Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Fedotov said Moscow welcomed Washington's proposal for a U.N. resolution on ruling postwar Iraq but said the plan fails to provide a clear picture about how sanctions will be lifted.

Fedotov discussed the situation in Iraq and the U.N. role there Saturday with French Ambassador Claude Blanchemaison and Chinese Ambassador Zhang Deguang, the Foreign Ministry said. Russia, China and France, all veto-wielding permanent members of the Security Council, opposed the U.S.-led war to topple Saddam Hussein.

Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Yang Wenchang will visit Moscow on Thursday to coordinate action on Iraq, the ministry said in a statement.

MANSURIYAH, Iraq - Leaders of an Iranian exile army that operated in Iraq for more than two decades surrendered to U.S. forces on Saturday and agreed to place their troops and equipment in camps under coalition control.

The well-armed Mujahedeen Khalq, with about 6,000 members, was the last organized armed force in Iraq and a potential challenge to the authority of the U.S.-led coalition. Members of the group had spent more than two decades fighting against Iran's Islamic government with support from Saddam Hussein.

Since the fall of Saddam's regime, the MEK had settled into empty Iraqi army bases and set up checkpoints in the Iran-Iraq border region.

The agreement reached Saturday disbanded the MEK as a fighting forces and instructed its members to cooperate with coalition forces.

CAIRO, Egypt - A London newspaper published a letter Saturday purportedly written by Saddam Hussein, urging Iraqis to wage holy war against American and British troops. The letter's authenticity, however, is in doubt.

The newspaper, Al-Quds Al-Arabi, published photographs of the two-page letter, but its handwriting and tone do not match the style of documents known to be written by Hussein.

The newspaper's editor, Abdel Bari Atwan, said he was faxed Saturday's letter, dated May 7, on Friday.

"I think it is written by Saddam Hussein. We had received a communique from the Iraqi Resistance and Liberation (group) and they said they would issue two letters," Atwan said.

TAMPA SOLDIER NOMINATED: Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith, a Tampa soldier credited with saving dozens of lives by fending off an Iraqi attack with a .50-caliber machine gun before he was killed, has been nominated for the Medal of Honor.

More than 400 soldiers from the 1st and 2nd brigades of Smith's division are under consideration for valor awards, but only Smith is believed to be nominated for the Medal of Honor.