Washington: In the face of highly critical world opinion, US and Britain have given
strong hints that they would consider extending the March 17 deadline for Iraq to
disarm and give President Saddam Hussein a specific list of demands based on weapons
inspectors' assessment of "gaps" in Iraqi disarmament.
"There are ideas that are being explored and looked at. So it is too soon to say
what the final document that will be put to vote will include," White House
spokesman Ari Fleischer told reporters on March 10 night.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair, for whom problems are worsening within his party
owing to his stand on the Iraq war, said an attempt was on to "find a way through
that brings the UN together.
"We have laid it (deadline) down because we believe that gives enough time for him
to show that he's fully co-operating", Blair said at a television show when asked
whether he was committed to a March 17 deadline for Iraq to prove it was disarming.
Regarding a "compromise resolution", he said it would give Saddam a specific list of
demands based on weapon inspectors' assessment of gaps in Iraqi disarmament".
The softening of stance by US and UK assumes significance as the 15-member council
is already split along two axes. Resolution co-sponsors the United States, Britain
and Spain have won over Bulgaria, while France, Russia and Germany have drawn Syria
and, to a lesser extent, China to their camp.
PTI
