United Nations: Adamant on using force to disarm Saddam Hussein despite global
protests, the United States and Britain are likely to present a new tough resolution
authorising military action against Iraq at the United Nations Security Council on
February 19.
According to diplomatic sources, the resolution is expected to be submitted to the
Security Council after an open debate, in which member states that are not
represented on the Council would also participate.
The debate, which is due to begin on February 18 and spill over to February 19, is
expected to hear calls for giving more time to UN weapons inspectors to fulfil their
task and opposition to American plan to take military action.
Despite France still opposing another resolution and occasionally indicating that it
might veto it, US and Britain plan to go ahead with the resolution. But diplomats
said it could undergo several changes to make the language milder before it is put
to vote.
The resolution is not expected to be put to vote before chief weapons inspector Hans
Blix's next report expected on March 1. It would be a written report, which would be
later released as a Security Council document bereft of the fanfare that accompanied
the last two reports by the UN inspectors last week.
Director general of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Mohamed el Baradei
would not have any report for March 1. His next report is likely sometime in the
middle of April.
Diplomats said there is some discussion on giving an ultimatum to President Saddam
Hussein to either step down or meet tough conditions within a specified period.
PTI
