Russia, Europe and Arab states piled pressure on Iraq on Friday to readmit UN arms inspectors even as UN Security Council members discussed a deadline for Iraqi compliance to avert a US-led war. US Secretary of State Colin Powell met the other four permanent council members with veto power — Russia, Britain, France and China — to seek agreement on a resolution giving Iraq an ultimatum to obey UN disarmament demands. British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the five had not reached an agreement on a specific deadline. ‘‘There is an understanding that if we get a certain imperative to get those weapons inspectors back then that has to mean a time limit.’’ US President Bush continued his tough-speak and said he wants a ‘‘quick resolution’’. At the same time, before a meeting with Central African leaders on Friday, he said he is ‘‘highly doubtful’’ that Saddam would comply with the long-standing UN requirements for inspections to show whether Iraq has eliminated such weapons. ‘‘For 11 long years, he has basically told the UN and the world he doesn’t care,’’ he said. The President also expressed scorn for congressional Democrats who want the UN to take up the question of dealing with Iraq before the US Congress does. ‘‘I can’t imagine an elected member of the US Senate or House of Representatives saying: ‘I think I’m going to wait for the UN to make a decision,’ ’’ Bush said. In Baghdad, Deputy PM Tariq Aziz suggested that Bush’s skepticism may be well-founded. He rejected the president’s demands for Iraqi compliance with UN arms control resolutions and described Bush’s speech to the world body as ‘‘full of lies.’’ ‘‘We do not accept his conditions,’’ Aziz said. Further, saying Iraq has defied the UN long enough, US President George W. Bush called on the world body on Saturday to ‘‘show some backbone’’ to confront Saddam Hussein.‘‘Saddam Hussein has defied the UN 16 times. Not once, not twice, 16 times, he has defied the UN. enough is enough,’’ Bush said.
