Washington: The United States bid to secure a tough new UN resolution to disarm Iraq on October 5, has won the backing of the world body's chief arms inspector, but officials admit they still lack enough support in the Security Council.

Congress was poised to grant George W Bush approval for a pre-emptive strike against Iraq, ahead of a speech by the US President on October 7, in which he will outline reasons for seeking military action against Baghdad.

"The President hoped his speech would sway detractors in Congress and among the public at large," his spokesman Ari Fleischer said. "The country will benefit from an opportunity to hear the President reflect on the reasons that (President) Saddam Hussein is such a clear threat to the United States," he added.

The House of Representatives agreed on Wednesday to give Bush broad authority to use military force against Iraq.

And after the US Senate debated the issue on October 4, supporters were confident the resolution would be approved in the coming week, most likely on October 9 or 10.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell and National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice discussed moves toward sending a new disarmament mission to Iraq with chief UN arms inspector Hans Blix.

The United States does not want inspectors to return until a new resolution is passed by the Security Council setting out stringent conditions and warning Saddam that he would face action if he does not comply.

"This would further clarify matters. We welcome this effort and I have the impression that ... there is broad support (among council members) for having a new resolution," Blix said. He would not comment on the debate on the form of the resolution, while Powell said he was "optimistic" that a firm resolution could still be agreed.

However, Russia has strongly opposed any new resolution, saying the United Nations should concentrate on quickly getting inspectors back into Iraq. And France insists there should be two resolutions, specifying the use of military force. After a week of intense diplomacy, the United States and Britain still lack sufficient support to pass a single, tough resolution on Iraq and may be forced to agree to two resolutions, US and UN officials said. In addition to the veto threat, the US-British proposal is opposed by a majority of the elected members, the officials said. The split would leave the United States and Britain with little choice but to accept a French proposal for two resolutions, the officials said.

France said about October 4 moves to send UN weapons inspectors back into Iraq should go ahead, despite US attempts to hold them back. "There is currently no obstacle to continuing preparations for the inspectors' mission," Foreign Ministry Spokesman Francois Rivasseau told.

US State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher on October 4 refused to confirm that a compromise was likely but did admit that the debate was "intricate and intense".

(AFP) -