United Nations (UN): The US and France were still trying to sort out the language in a tough American resolution on return of weapons inspectors to Iraq even as intense diplomatic activities continued at the United Nations.

Even though a vote on the resolution is expected only late next week at the earliest, by all accounts, Washington and Paris are moving closer.

The US kept up pressure with Secretary of State Colin Powell repeating that he expected the seven-week drama to conclude by end of next week and asserting that US would not be "tied down or handcuffed" by United Nations.

"At no time will the United States foreclose its ability to act in its interest in accordance with its Constitutional obligation to protect the nation and protect the people," Powell said on October 30.

"We are narrowing the differences and I think we are getting much closer," Powell told National Public Radio (NPR).

As the two countries were trying to find a language of compromise, UN Chief Weapons Inspector Hans Blix and Chief of International Atomic Agency Dr Mohamed El Baradei heard from US President George W Bush the need for a rigorous investigation into the suspected sites in Iraq.

Criticising the meeting, Baghdad accused Bush of trying to interfere in the work of inspectors.

Bush, it said, wanted to impose his own policy on the inspectors who would be going there on behalf of the UN.

Blix said after the meeting that Bush wanted to ensure that Iraq does not indulge in "cat and mouse" game. He also met Vice President Dick Cheney and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice.

Blix will head the teams looking for biological and chemical weapons and El Baradei will lead inspectors trying to ferret out any nuclear weapons.

Diplomats said that the meeting was significant, as it is now more or less certain that inspectors would go to Iraq.

Iraq would have to agree to the new resolution if the Security Council is able to adopt one. So far, Baghdad has been saying that it does not see the need of another resolution and wants inspectors to return under the old regime.

PTI