Russia rejects 'coalition' draft resolution

A senior Russian diplomat today categorically rejected the current draft resolution being suggested to the UN Security Council by Washington.

The comments came as President Vladimir Putin told British Prime Minister Tony Blair that Moscow might consider a new resolution on Iraq.

But Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Fedotov said America’s draft resolution could not be accepted because it contains “conditions that are known to be impossible to implement in advance”.

He told the Interfax news agency that if a new resolution were to be worked out, “it should reflect the approaches of all Security Council members, including Russia.”

Russia has strongly opposed the use of force against Iraq and pushed for a prompt return of the UN inspectors.

But Moscow has so far kept the door open for dialogue with the US and Britain, which have pushed for a new Council resolution providing military support for the arms inspectors’ work in Iraq.