Security council in make or break talks on Iraq

The divided UN Security Council heads into make or break talks this week on a new Iraq resolution, with Washington demanding that Saddam Hussein face the threat of force and France and Russia opposing any language that could trigger military action.

The French, Russians and Chinese – all veto-wielding council members – want Iraq to be given a chance to cooperate with UN arms inspectors.

If Baghdad fails to comply with inspections, they want the Security Council to meet immediately, and only then consider possible military action in a second resolution.

But the United States and Britain, also veto-wielding members, are demanding a single resolution which Secretary of State Colin Powell has stressed must include “the threat of force and the threat of consequences ... or we know that Iraq will not respond.”

On notice that Washington wants a vote this week on the tough resolution it submitted, the Security Council starts consultations today with a briefing from chief weapons inspector Hans Blix and Mohammed ElBaradei of the International Atomic Energy Agency, which is in charge of nuclear inspections.

During the closed-door meeting, Blix and ElBaradei are expected to be asked about new rules in the UN draft to strengthen inspections.

France’s UN Ambassador Jean-David Levitte has said their assessment will be “very important”.

While the inspection rules are a key element of the resolution, the issue of authorising military force is critical.

In a surprise move on Friday, France and Russia introduced their own proposals to challenge the US draft resolution.

Both eliminate two US references to Iraq being in “material breach” of its obligations which they view as a hidden trigger for military action.

Russia, Iraq’s closest council ally, wants to stick as closely as possible to current inspection rules. Its draft also eliminates a US reference to the council repeatedly warning Iraq that it will face “serious consequences” as a result of continued violation of its obligations to dismantle nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programs.

France, which sees itself as a potential broker between Washington and Moscow, wants to water down some US inspection proposals. The French proposal would refer to the council’s warning of “serious consequences” – but only in the event that inspectors filed a report saying Iraq had failed to comply.

The 15 Security Council members discussed the three proposals behind closed doors on Friday. France said afterwards that eight countries supported its two-stage approach.

French diplomats named the eight supporters as Mexico, Cameroon, Guinea, Ireland, Mauritius, France, China and Russia. Syria opposes any new resolution.