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