Security Council talks end in dispute

A Security Council meeting on Iraq ended in bitter dispute today with council members unable to agree on basic issues such as a timetable for weapons inspectors to report next to the council.

Diplomats described a terrible atmosphere within the council, which met behind closed doors for four hours.

The council is split between those who are supporting the Bush administration’s calls for the use of force to disarm Saddam Hussein, and others, led by the French, who want to continue weapons inspections.

At the end of the session, French Ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sabliere said the majority of the council still opposed a US-backed draft resolution and he pushed the French proposal for additional time for inspections.

US Ambassador John Negroponte didn’t speak with reporters although Washington’s quest for support on its resolution appeared to be picking up steam with several undecided council members.

Still, ambassadors who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Americans seemed unwilling to compromise to achieve council unity on Iraq.

“This was one of the most depressing meetings I’ve seen,” said one ambassador.

Another described the atmosphere as “bitter and unpleasant.”

Ambassadors said there was little actual discussion about the merits of the US resolution, which is backed by Britain and Spain, or the French proposal. And they couldn’t agree on when the chief inspectors should next report to the council or how they should proceed with their work in the meantime.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s office was reviewing a 17-page report from chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix detailing the work of his staff in Iraq over the past three months.

Blix said on Wednesday that Iraq still hasn’t committed to disarming but he appeared to push for continued weapons inspections as a peaceful way to disarm Saddam Hussein.

Russia has been pushing for a diplomatic solution to the crisis but in a telephone call today, Russian President Vladimir Putin and President George W. Bush pledged to continue consultations on Iraq, the Kremlin said.

“Both sides expressed the intention to increase work in the UN Security Council with the purpose of developing a plan of action that would guarantee the interests of the entire world community,” the Kremlin press service said in a statement.

The draft authorising war was presented this week by the US, Britain and Spain.

There was some evidence that Bush was gaining ground for military action, including signals that Mexico had changed its strong anti-war stance and may back the US-driven resolution.

Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca was in Pakistan Thursday to lobby for its vote.

Islamabad has not revealed whether it would support the US resolution, although Pakistani diplomats had said privately they would likely abstain in any vote. There’s almost no possibility that Pakistan would vote against the United States and some within President Pervez Musharraf’s administration say Islamabad is considered voting with Washington.

Blix’s latest report will be distributed to the council on Friday.