United Nations: Warning that the UN (United Nations) debate on Iraq cannot continue forever, the US has said discussions on the draft resolution was entering a "very key week" in which Security Council members must narrow differences and reach an agreement on disarming Baghdad.

"Its time to bring the remaining issues to a head for resolution, if possible. And if resolution is not possible, then let's come to that realisation and move forward," US Secretary of State Colin Powell told reporters in Los Cabos, Mexico.

"We have reached a point where we have to make a few fundamental decisions in the early part of next week and go forward. We can't continue to have a debate that never ends," he said.

Meanwhile, France said it might formally introduce its own resolution on disarming Iraq, directly challenging the American draft. In a radio interview, French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin said France is willing to use for negotiations the tough draft presented by the US but if consensus cannot be reached, then Paris would offer its own draft challenging the America's.

PTI