New U.S. compromise offer on Iraq welcomed by France

UNITED NATIONS -- France cautiously welcomed elements of a new U.S. compromise offer on Iraq Friday, but diplomats said sticking points remain over language that could trigger U.S. military action if Baghdad obstructs weapons inspectors.

French President Jacques Chirac said negotiations for a new Security Council resolution were moving "in the right direction" after the United States dropped a demand for an explicit authorization of military force in the face of non-cooperation with the inspectors.

"There's no opposition between the French and American positions," Chirac told French-language TV5 and Radio France International in Beirut, where he was attending a summit of French-speaking leaders.

The comments were seen by diplomats as a welcome sign that Britain, the United States, France, Russia and China -- the five permanent members of the council -- were moving toward agreement on how to proceed on Iraq after five weeks of negotiations.

But French diplomats said they were waiting to see a full version of the new U.S. proposal and that negotiations were continuing, mostly between Washington and Paris.

Diplomats have been negotiating since President Bush addressed the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 12 and told world leaders to confront the "grave and gathering danger" posed by Iraq -- or stand aside as the United States acts.

Iraq responded by suddenly inviting weapons inspectors to return after barring them for nearly four years. The inspectors left Baghdad in December 1998 ahead of U.S. and British airstrikes punishing Iraq for obstructing their work.