US still faces stiff opposition on Iraq resolution

Predicting negotiations for a UN resolution against Iraq would be "messy," the United States and Britain sought to convince France, Russia and China to approve tough disarmament proposals.

Facing opposition in the UN Security Council, Washington drew up a new draft, and met twice yesterday with the four other permanent members of the 15-nation Security Council who hold veto power.

But there was no sign the two sides were moving any closer on the US draft, last changed on Monday.

The proposals no longer have an explicit authorisation of military action but they declare Iraq in "material breach" and threaten "serious consequences," language Washington can interpret as sufficient to allow the use of force.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said yesterday, "It's probably going to be a messy process," because of the complicated and lengthy text.

US Ambassador John Negroponte said the five would meet again as soon as possible but acknowledged hard work ahead.

"Every country brings its own perspective and its own point of view to these issues, and these things have to be hashed out and discussed," he said, adding that he wanted to ensure "there's no veto in the offing."

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov was quoted as telling journalists in Moscow that "the American draft resolution ... does not for the moment, meet the criteria which the Russian side had previously outlined and stands by now."

French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin said during a visit to Luxembourg, "Some progress is still needed and so we have much work to do."

The United States has agreed to a two-stage process but not two resolutions as France once wanted, one to give UN weapons inspectors a mandate and a second to authorize force.

The US resolution requires the inspectors "to report immediately to the Council any interference by Iraq with inspection activities, as well as any failure by Iraq to comply with its disarmament obligations."

The Security Council would then convene immediately to consider the situation. British Ambassador Sir Jeremy Greenstock has said this could lead to a second resolution but "the US is saying is will not be committed to wait for the result because the UN may not get it right."

The US draft demands Iraq accept the resolution within seven days of its adoption and within 30 days provide "an acceptable and currently accurate, full and complete declaration of all aspects of its programs" to develop weapons of mass destruction.

Inspections are to resume within 45 days after the resolution is adopted and the inspectors will then have 60 days to report back on their findings. But they are to report sooner if Iraq fails to comply with its obligations.

Russia was said to voice the harshest criticism at the private sessions. France and others, diplomats said, had problems with the wording of Iraq's declaration of its weapons and related materials, believing it could open the way to war.

The US draft says, "False statements or omissions in the declarations submitted by Iraq pursuant to this resolution and failure by Iraq at any time to comply with, and co-operate fully in the implementation of, this resolution shall constitute further material beach of Iraq's obligations."

Washington believes that if US forces were to attack Iraq the best conditions would be in the first few months of next year and are anxious to wrap up the UN process, without which few nations would offer political support.

Iraq denies it has weapons of mass destruction and says it will allow free access to UN inspectors.

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer told reporters, "It is coming down to the end. The United Nations does not have forever, and we'll continue to work it and see when we get an agreement, if we get an agreement, how to proceed."

- REUTERS

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