Resolution may not go before council

The British-Spanish-US resolution on Iraq may be withdrawn because of France’s veto threat, Spain’s foreign minister said today.

Ana Palacio spoke after talks with her French counterpart Dominique de Villepin and other government officials.

The resolution is being co-sponsored by the United States, Britain and Spain and sets a deadline for Iraq to prove it has ridded itself of arms of mass destruction.

France, Russia and China have said they will oppose any resolution endorsing war against Iraq.

Palacio said that if there is a vote she expects it by Friday at the latest, but that conceivably there might not be one.

“Clearly, not putting it to a vote is a possibility which is being considered,” Palacio said.