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Is the US acting as a sole superpower by snubbing UN? Post your views

United Nations: The United States has postponed the vote on its new Iraq resolution to later in the day to allow French, Russian and German leaders to hold consultations even as Washington received important support from China and Pakistan for its draft leading it to predict a "successful vote".

"A great deal of progress has been made over the last 24 hours and especially today. I think that we will have a successful vote on the resolution," Secretary of State Colin Powell told reporters in Washington.

Powell said he had spoken to colleagues from Angola, Germany and Pakistan besides representatives for permanent Council members Britain and China.

Pakistan's UN Ambassador Munir Akram said, "We will vote for the resolution."

China is also expected to vote for the resolution.

"I think our attitude has become more and more positive. If a vote is taken, I hope that there will be more members supporting this draft," China's UN Ambassador Wang Guangya said.

"What we want to see is a stronger role for the UN and early return of sovereignty. At this stage I think this resolution is far from what we expect. But I think as Council members we should always be ready to make some compromises," Wang said.

The US agreed to Russia's request for voting to be postponed so that the leaders of France, Russia and Germany could discuss the final draft and decide whether to vote or not to support the resolution.

The vote is now expected to be around 10:00 hours (19:30 hours IST).

PTI