United Nations: The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) has said it will urge the UN Security Council to allow return of weapons inspectors to Iraq as soon as possible and solve the issue peacefully, while voicing concern over "isolation" of non-permanent Council members from the deliberations.

The return of the inspectors would pave the way for a peaceful resolution of the issue, said NAM co-ordinating bureau Ambassador Shadrack Kumalo.

He said the 130-member NAM was concerned that non-permanent Council members were being "isolated from deliberations".

"My dream would be for all 191 of them to speak. The permanent members might delay the return of the inspectors and lose a critical opportunity," he said while briefing reporters on the eve of an open debate on Iraq in the Council scheduled to start on October 16.

On the US draft resolution, which provides that a member state can use force if it is found that Iraq has not complied with resolution, Kumalo said the Council would enter into "uncharted territory" if it threatened force at the same time that a member state was making overtures to comply with its resolutions.

Calling for an open debate on the issue in the light of discussions taking place, primarily among permanent members of the Council, Kumalo said the purpose of the debate was not to "take the wind out of the sails of the US or anyone else. It's to reaffirm the principles of the UN charter".

The debate is expected to be marked by strong opposition to the US proposal to toughen the sanction and authorise member states to use force if Iraq does not comply.

PTI