Bush consults Russia, China, France

US President George W. Bush on Friday sought to sway the leaders of France, Russia and China to back his drive to oust Iraqi President Sadda...

US President George W. Bush on Friday sought to sway the leaders of France, Russia and China to back his drive to oust Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

Bush called French President Jacques Chirac, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Jiang Zemin, who all have questions about a pre-emptive military strike on Iraq. The three nations, along with the US and Britain, form the permanent five members of the UN Security Council.

‘‘It’s the beginning of the process that the President outlined on Wednesday to consult with friends and allies on how to remove the threat posed by Saddam Hussein and his relentless acquisition of weapons of mass destruction,’’ said a White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

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Russia appeared unconvinced. The Kremlin said Putin told British Prime Minister Tony Blair he had ‘‘deep doubts that there are grounds for the use of force in connection with Iraq,’’ Russia’s RIA news agency said.

Bush said on Wednesday he would offer some ideas on how to deal with Saddam when he addresses the UN General Assembly in New York on Sept. 12. There is much speculation that Bush will call for an ultimatum for Iraq to allow UN weapons inspectors unfettered weapons inspections or face military attack.