U.S. distributes revised U.N. resolution to council members

UNITED NATIONS -- The United States on Monday distributed a revised U.N. resolution on Iraq to the other veto-wielding members of the Security Council that it said would toughen weapons inspections and ensure there will be "consequences" if Iraq fails to comply.

But France's U.N. ambassador, Jean-David Levitte, whose country has been pressing to give Iraq a last chance to comply with inspectors without a threat of military action, put a damper on prospects for quick agreement on a new resolution.

Levitte said there was no agreement on a text, and when asked if one was close, he replied: "I don't think so."

U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte distributed the revised text at a meeting of the five permanent members -- the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France -- who have been divided on how tough a new resolution should be.

The United States and Britain want a single resolution that would allow the use of force if Saddam did not comply with U.N. weapons inspectors. Last week, Washington backed down from its demand that the resolution authorize "all necessary means," but it is still demanding language stating that Baghdad would face "consequences."

France, backed by Russia and China, favors a two-stage approach that would give Iraq a chance to cooperate and only authorize force in a second resolution if Baghdad failed to comply with inspections.

In Moscow , a top Russian diplomat on Monday warned that Moscow would oppose any new resolution on Iraq that would allow "automatic use of force" or contain "unfeasible" demands.

Resolution expected

The United States had previously only given out language on some key sections of the draft resolution to the permanent members. On Sunday, Secretary of State Colin Powell said he expected to formally introduce a resolution to the entire 15-member Security Council early this week.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said that, along with the revised document, "We're also making clear it is time to wrap this up."

The 10 other council members, who are elected for two-year terms, are expected to get the text on Tuesday, diplomats said, and negotiations will then begin in the full council .

Boucher said the new text "will accomplish our goals, identifying the violations of U.N. resolutions by Iraq, mandating and giving the inspectors authority to carry out strong and unrestricted inspections, and making clear that the council is determined to ensure that there will be consequences if Iraq fails to comply."

The United States made some changes to take into account "the ideas that were raised by our partners," he said.

The five permanent council members met at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, across the street from U.N. headquarters.

The Iraq crisis began five weeks ago when President Bush told the General Assembly to confront the "grave and gathering danger" posed by Iraq -- or stand aside as the United States acts.

Iraq responded to the escalating threat of U.S. military action by suddenly inviting U.N. weapons inspectors to return after barring them for nearly four years. The inspectors left Baghdad in December 1998 ahead of U.S. and British air strikes punishing Iraq for obstructing their work.