Blair sure of securing Iraq resolution

BRITISH Prime Minister Tony Blair said yesterday he was confident of securing agreement on a new United Nations resolution on Iraq as international weapons inspectors prepared for talks on returning to Baghdad.

British and American officials were engaged in an intensive diplomatic campaign to win support from the other permanent members of the UN Security Council France, Russia and China for a toughly worded resolution on weapons inspections.

The three who could each veto any new resolution are deeply reluctant to accede to British and American demands for a UN mandate for immediate military action if Saddam Hussein fails to comply with the inspection regime.