Security Council consultations begin on revamped U.S. resolution on Iraq

The Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS - The United States took a final revision of its Iraq resolution to the Security Council yesterday in hopes of winning approval after eight weeks of tumultuous negotiations with wary allies concerned it could trigger a new war against Saddam Hussein.

The draft has changed significantly since it was first introduced last month, but U.S. officials said the bottom line remains the same: tough new weapons inspections coupled with a threat of "serious consequences" if Iraq fails to comply.

While the revised draft offers major concessions to critics, it still frees the Bush administration to take military action against Iraq without a second resolution.

In an attempt to meet French and Russian concerns, the new U.S. draft gives Saddam "a final opportunity" to comply with U.N. inspectors, holds out the possibility of lifting sanctions against Iraq, and adds a reaffirmation of Iraq's sovereignty.

But it remains to be seen whether the latest draft, written with British support, will satisfy Russia, France and others.

Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Fedotov said yesterday that Moscow remains opposed to any wording that would give Washington a free hand in launching military action.

U.S. diplomats met yesterday with the other four veto-wielding permanent council members - Russia, France, Britain and China - before sharing the new text with the other 10 elected members.

Norway, Colombia and Bulgaria indicated they would support the resolution. Mexico and Singapore said they had sent the new text to their capitals to be studied. Syria's deputy ambassador Fayssal Mekdad, whose country opposes any new resolution, said: "We have a lot of concerns."