United Nations: The new US draft resolution on Iraq faced stiff opposition from Russia, France and China with diplomats stating that "messy negotiations" that lay ahead could drag on into the week or even early next week.

The major problem with the new draft, prepared in consultation with Britain, is that the three believe the way it is written, it could be interpreted by the US to mean that it authorises military action against Iraq if Baghdad obstructs inspectors without another Security Council resolution.

The resolution provides that if inspectors report obstruction, the Council would convene immediately but does not explicitly state that a second resolution would be necessary for military action.

The US, backed by Britain, is pushing a single resolution that it states would allow force to be used against Iraq if it doesn't meet its UN disarmament obligations.

Paris, Moscow and Beijing still want a two-state approach giving Iraq another chance to comply with UN weapons inspectors and only authorising force in a second resolution if Baghdad obstructed inspections.

At two meetings on October 22 lasting several hours, the five permanent members of the Council went over the draft line by line and diplomats said Russia was most vocal in opposing some its controversial provisions.

No date has been set for the next meeting as the five take stock of the first serious discussions held on the draft and decide the next course of action. But diplomats said it is a sign of some progress that the five had met after battling in media for days.

PTI