US urges quick nod for resolution as UN conducts thorough review

THE United States urged speedy approval of its proposed resolution on disarming Iraq, as all 15 members of the UN Security Council prepared to review the document, paragraph by paragraph, yesterday.

Among the five veto-wielding members of the council, Russia appears to be the biggest obstacle. It has rejected the latest draft resolution and has not ruled out a veto, saying it is worried that language in the document would automatically sanction a military attack.

But US officials, who presented the seven-page document to the council on Wednesday, said the real threat was inaction.