Compromise UN resolution to buy Iraq a little time
* China joins Russia, France to reject use of force
* Turkish military trucks head for Iraqi border
UNITED NATIONS: Britain and the US are considering amending the latest UN resolution on Iraq in order to give Iraqi President Saddam Hussein more time to disarm, and to try and win over UNSC members as yet undecided on which way to vote.
China joined France and Russia in rejecting the use of force against Baghdad and leaving the door open for a possible veto, while Turkish military trucks headed for the Iraq border on Thursday as US vehicles drove east.
Baghdad disposed of another six al-Samoud 2 missiles, while Washington expelled two Iraqi diplomats accredited to the UN, accusing them of spying.
Britain and the US are considering a compromise resolution to give Mr Hussein “an ultimatum” and to set out “precise tasks” that show his willingness to disarm.
UN sources said the two allies would try to persuade other Council members that if they authorized military action there would still be a “window” before force was actually used, while in London a diplomat confirmed that Britain was considering amending the latest resolution.
Under any amendment, Iraq would be ordered to meet key disarmament tasks that would allow “everybody to judge if Saddam Hussein is really cooperating or not”, the source added.
The US is open to modifying the new UN resolution, the White House said. “Nothing is set in stone,” spokesman Ari Fleischer told reporters.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said London would allow Mr Hussein to remain in power if Iraq fully disarmed. “We have made it clear that if Iraq complies with 1441 and disarms its weapons of mass destruction, we accept that the government of Iraq stays in place,” Mr Straw said. “Yes, of course, in a different world, we would like to see a different government running Iraq.”
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan appealed to UNSC members to find a compromise on the Iraq crisis even as an amended resolution was being considered.
Mr Annan said he was working hard to get a compromise. “I am encouraging people to strive for a compromise, to seek a common ground and to make concessions,” he said. “Until there is an actual vote, one cannot tell what will happen.”
Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan said Beijing supports the declaration by France, Germany and Russia to block the new resolution authorising war on Iraq.
“China’s position is consistent with the joint statement,” he said. He also dismissed a new resolution as “absolutely unnecessary” but said it was too early to say whether Beijing would use its power of veto when the Council puts the draft proposals to a vote. “Diplomacy at the Security Council is still going on,” he said.
EU foreign affairs envoy Javier Solana said no military intervention against Iraq should occur without authorization from the UN, adding this was the position of all members of the EU.
Around 200 Turkish trucks were heading for the Iraqi border post of Habur while to the west, dozens of trailer trucks carrying US military vehicles recently unloaded from US vessels off the coast, left the port of Iskenderun. Turkish authorities denied this was preparation for a cross-border operation, and said the US vehicles were to be used in upgrading Turkish ports and airports in a mission authorized by parliament.
The Daily Express said British troops in the Gulf had been told to prepare for an invasion of Iraq on March 17, preceded by a massive “short and sharp” air blitz on Iraq from March 13.
US and British warplanes patrolling the skies over southern Iraq struck two air defence facilities in response to hostile fire at around 0210 GMT, the US military announced. —AFP/Reuters
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