“The Governing Council [of Iraq] was invited to take up Iraq’s seat at the UN without specifically being recognised as the government of the country. On 14 August [2003], in a 14-0 vote, with Syria abstaining, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 1500 that ‘welcomed’ the formation of the Governing Council, but left the question of a sovereign Iraqi government till later.”
– Ali A. Allawi, The Occupation of Iraq, Page 167