Washington: In a major reversal of its oft-stated position, the US on March 14 said
it was open to briefly delaying a vote on the UN resolution paving the way for war on
Iraq, until next week if postponement would help in garnering support for the
measure.
"It (the UN discussions) may conclude on March 14. It man continue into next week,"
White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said, adding, "The President is willing to go the
extra mile for diplomacy but there is a limit to how far he will go."
He, however, insisted that US President George W Bush still insists on a UN
vote.
Bush is prepared for a brief delay in the vote on the US-British-Spanish resolution
into next week as it may help British Premier Tony Blair, who is facing stiff
opposition to the war in Parliament, a senior White House official, speaking on
condition of anonymity, said.
The US-British-Spanish resolution under consideration sets a March 17 deadline for
Iraq to disarm. Pushing the deadline for a vote is expected to mean that the deadline
would be delayed as well. But experts on the Middle East said that if it is going to
be war, it cannot be delayed too long because of the weather conditions in the
desert.
As Fleischer was briefing the media, White House officials scrambled to organise a
"European trip" for Bush, according to two senior White House officials. They later
said that the planning had been stopped and Bush did not intend to leave town.
PTI
