Britain may abandon new resolution

BRITISH Foreign Secretary Jack Straw last night acknowledged they may have to abandon hopes of securing a new United Nations resolution before going to war with Iraq.

At a news conference at the Foreign Office, he repeatedly refused to say whether the draft resolution tabled by Britain, the US and Spain would be put to a vote in the Security Council.

Earlier, his Spanish counterpart Ana Palacio openly accepted that the resolution may be withdrawn, citing the threat by President Jacques Chirac to wield the French veto “whatever the circumstances”.