Resolutions compete for UN approval
Britain, the United States and Spain have submitted a new resolution to the UN seeking approval for military action against Iraq, declaring that Saddam Hussein has missed "the final opportunity" to disarm peacefully.
The resolution was formally presented by British Ambassador Jeremy Greenstock on behalf of the three countries.
But France, Russia and Germany, which oppose the war option, circulated an alternative plan to pursue a peaceful disarmament of Iraq over at least the next five months. China said it also supports that proposal.
The rival positions set the stage for a heated battle over whether the council would back the US and British demand for war now or the French, Russian, and German call for war to be "a last resort".
To pass, the US-backed resolution must have nine "yes" votes and avoid a veto by France, Russia or China. Eleven of the 15 council members want to see UN weapons inspections continue, while Bulgaria is likely to support the British plan.
US Secretary of State Colin Powell urged China to support the new resolution at meetings with top officials in Beijing today, but the Chinese stood by their long-standing position that UN inspections should continue.
The draft resolution does not set any deadlines. But US and British officials made clear they want the Security Council to vote by mid-March.
The resolution declares that Iraq has failed to take advantage of its last chance to disarm peacefully and therefore must face the "serious consequences" the Security Council threatened in Resolution 1441, which was adopted unanimously on November 8.
The new resolution recalls that "Iraq has been and remains in material breach of its obligations" under UN resolutions.
It also recalls that council decided on November 8 "that false statements or omissions" in its 12,000-page declaration to UN weapons inspectors "and failure by Iraq at any time to comply with, and co-operate fully in the implementation of that resolution, would constitute a further material breach."
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