US still to convince France on Iraq

France was still considering new proposals from the US on Friday that drop an explicit UN authorisation for an attack on Iraq but now also w...

France was still considering new proposals from the US on Friday that drop an explicit UN authorisation for an attack on Iraq but now also warn of ‘‘serious consequences’’.

The US had hoped to circulate its new draft resolution to key members of the UN Security Council shortly. The US proposals would give UN arms inspectors a central role in searching for chemical, biological and nuclear weapons before any military action is taken.

	Sharon back from US
JERUSALEM: Israel PM Ariel Sharon returned on Friday from talks with US President Bush to face tensions that threaten Washington’s efforts to instill calm as it seeks Arab support for possible war on Iraq. (Reuters) Story continues below this ad

But an expected meeting on Friday of the five permanent Council members — US, France, Britain, Russia and China — was in doubt as Paris reviewed new disclosures in the US text and its President, Jacques Chirac, was travelling in West Asia. France at first reacted favourably to the change in direction by Washington. The US, which says Iraq must disarm because it is a threat to the region and beyond, no longer insisted on its immediate right to use ‘‘all necessary means’’ in event of Iraqi non-compliance.

‘‘It is not completely settled yet between Washington and Paris,’’ one envoy close to the negotiations said. ‘‘The French were ready to go on Thursday but now they are considering new bits of the text.’’

The new US text says that Iraq has been repeatedly warned that it will face ‘‘serious consequences’’ as a result of its continued violations of its obligations and that it has been in ‘‘material breach’’ of UN resolutions, diplomats reported.

These two provisions are not linked to an authorisation of force but could eventually be interpreted by the US as legal justification for a war, they said. The US proposals also pave the way for a second resolution in the Security Council to authorise force if weapons inspectors report that Iraq has violated UN demands. (Reuters)