Security Council reviews revamped U.S. resolution

UNITED NATIONS -- The United States pushed for a quick U.N. vote Wednesday on a revised Iraq resolution which threatens Saddam Hussein with "serious consequences," while trying to ease concerns about setting off a new war.

But after eight weeks of intensive wrangling in the Security Council, and some major concessions by the Bush administration, France and Russia are still not satisfied.

French President Jacques Chirac called Russia's Vladimir Putin Wednesday to discuss the new text and both agreed that "ambiguities" that could be used to trigger an attack on Iraq must be removed, Chirac's spokeswoman said. Nonetheless, both leaders saw "many improvements" in the new U.S. proposal, Colonna said.

U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte said the United States intends to put the draft resolution to a vote on Friday and "deserves consensus support."

If the resolution is adopted on Friday, Iraq would have seven days to accept the terms. U.N. chief weapons inspector Hans Blix said an advance team would be in Baghdad within 10 days of its acceptance.

Inspectors would have 45 days to actually begin work, and would have to report to the council 60 days later on Iraq's performance.

While the revised draft offers concessions to critics, including a greater role for the Security Council, it still meets the Bush administration's key demands: toughening inspections, threatening Iraq with "serious consequences," and freeing the United States to take military action against Iraq if inspectors say it isn't complying.