World powers still split on bringing Iran before council

THE United States yesterday demanded swift action to bring Iran before the UN Security Council over its atomic ambitions, despite Russia and China urging caution.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad began a visit to Syria by signalling to the world that the two regional allies, each facing threats of a referral to the council, will not be cowed.

“On Iran, we have been very clear that the time has come for a referral to the Security Council,” US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told reporters in Washington.