The U.S.-appointed Iraqi Governing Council and the American occupation authority agreed Saturday on the terms of a new plan for the accelerated transfer of authority in Iraq. Paul Bremer, chief administrator in Iraq, said the U.S. would help write an interim Iraqi constitution that, “embodies American values.” The plan authorizes the creation of a provisional government that would assume sovereignty by the end of June.

The New York Times and the Washington Post note that this would allow for a reduction in American forces in Iraq just as the 2004 presidential campaign gets underway. Pentagon officials, however, have said that “tens of thousands” of troops would likely remain in Iraq for several years as “invited guests” of the new government.