United Nation: With British Premier Tony Blair expressing confidence that a second
resolution authorising war against Iraq would be passed by United Nations, London is
negotiating changes in the one it moved earlier to make it more palatable to a
majority of Security Council members.
Diplomats say new approach is to give Iraqi President Saddam Hussein more time to
comply with the Council disarmament demands but it is yet unclear whether the United
States would agree to the changes.
US has indicated that it is prepared for changes in the wording of the resolution
already on the table which says Iraq has failed to take final opportunity to disarm.
But US says it would not compromise with the substance of the
resolution.
With France, Russia and Germany strongly opposing the resolution, Britain, diplomats
says, is prepared to change the text to give another chance to Iraq to disarm
peacefully. However, the British diplomats are not commenting on it.
US has been threatening to take military action against Iraq with or without UN
resolution. A high level of diplomatic activity was visible at the UN on March 5
with Ambassadors of various Council members holding consultations and trying to
convince one another of their respective viewpoints.
Hours after meeting Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, Blair told the House of
Commons in London on March 5 that a second resolution against Iraq should be carried
next week.
He said UK and US would press the new draft to a vote if UN weapons inspector Hans
Blix reports on March 7 that Saddam is still failing to comply fully with the
existing UN Resolution 1441.
PTI
