United Nations: The United States is facing a formidable opposition in the Security
Council on military action against Iraq, with at least eight of the 15 members
demanding that inspectors be given more time and calling for a peaceful disarmament
of Baghdad.
But the United States warned that the "window is closing on us" while Britain said
the way in which Iraq was giving information dribble by dribble was not acceptable.
However, the case against Iraq made at length by President George W Bush in its
State of Union address to the Congress on January 28 failed to sway an overwhelming
majority of members, with Britain and Spain being the only ones extending full
support to Washington.
But a little anxiety among the delegates was visible over the presentation to be
made by American Secretary of State Colin Powell on February 5 to buttress
Washington's case against Iraq, with some diplomats suggesting that it could be the
beginning of an end of the inspections.
However, talking to reporters after a closed door Council meeting where they closely
questioned chief weapons inspector Hans Blix and director general of the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Mohamed el-Baradei, Ambassadors said they
would comment only after hearing what Powell has to say at the meeting.
Diplomats expect intense diplomatic and political activity ahead of the meeting both
in the capitals and the UN.
Powell is expected to present evidence of Iraq's secret weapons programme at the
meeting and have bilateral discussions with his counterparts to press Washington's
case for military action against Iraq.
The possibility of a second resolution is also being considered, which lists areas
where Iraq has failed to meet the Council demand and warning it to fully co-operate
within a short period. But much would depend on how the negotiations go and how the
US pressure plays out.
Blix and el-Baradei are to present another report on February 14 and then in mid-
March.
Russia, France, China, Mexico, Chile, Germany, Cameroon and Syria advocated more
time for the inspectors, saying they should be allowed to do their job, diplomats
said.
Talking to reporters before going into the Council chamber, Russian Ambassador
demanded "convincing" and "undeniable" proof that Iraq has prohibited weapons before
his country could change its position, while German Ambassador Gunter Pleuger said
the inspectors should be given "a realistic opportunity to discharge their mandate."
Lavrov reacted sharply to reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin was shifting
his position closer to Washington's on military action against Iraq, calling it as
misrepresented by the press.
"We believe that inspections must continue and that if Iraq stops co-operating and
starts blocking inspections, we must look into it," he said, asserting that this had
been the Russian position all along.
American UN Ambassador John Negroponte said the widow was closing and time for
decision-making was fast approaching.
French Ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sabliere said majority of members favoured giving
more time to inspectors, but British Ambassador Sir Jeremy Greenstock said Blix
report has changed the "character of debate".
"It isn't a matter of time, but it is matter whether Iraq realises that the game is
up and whether it continues to keep inspectors at bay," he said.
PTI
