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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Patricia Trinchero who wrote (44335)	9/16/2002 2:33:29 AM
From: maceng2	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 281500

US may allow UN a two-step resolution By Edward Alden in Washington and Stephen Fidler in London Published: September 15 2002 19:23 \| Last Updated: September 15 2002 19:23 news.ft.com The US on Sunday left the door open to a two-step United Nations resolution on Iraq that could allow members of the security council to delay the key question of whether they support military action against the regime of Saddam Hussein. Colin Powell, US secretary of state, said on Sunday that while the US would prefer a single resolution that, in effect, authorised force against Iraq, it understood that many other countries wanted two separate votes. "Because this is a discussion with our friends, we're not ruling out any options at this point," he told CBS television. He added in a separate interview on NBC News that President George W. Bush had deliberately referred to "resolutions" in his speech to the UN on Thursday. UN members are set this week to begin the drafting of a resolution or resolutions that would set a strict timetable for Iraq to agree to comply with all outstanding UN resolutions. US officials on Sunday said the demands on Iraq must include all previous UN resolutions requiring the Iraqi regime to disarm and end its pursuit of weapons of mass destruction, cease abusing domestic minorities and return or account for all Gulf war prisoners. Mr Powell said Iraq should only be given weeks to agree it would comply. He ruled out any negotiations with Iraq over those conditions. Mr Powell's willingness to consider two resolutions may indicate continued disagreements within the US administration rather than any softening of the US position. Condoleezza Rice, US national security adviser, said on ABC News that the US would prefer a single resolution spelling out that there would be consequences if Iraq refused to comply. But it would "leave open precisely how we deal with the use of force". That could free the US to act on its own. Another senior US official said at the weekend that the US wanted to avoid a two-step process in which the security council was left, in effect, with a veto over possible military action. He said the resolution should leave the decision on whether the Iraqi president had complied with UN demands in the hands of the US-led coalition. "The decision-making authority should not be in the hands of the Security Council. That remains a critical element for the US." Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia stepped up pressure on the Baghdad regime. The kingdom has previously ruled out any use of its bases by US forces to attack Iraq, but Prince Saud al-Faisal, foreign minister, told CNN at the weekend that if the Security Council authorises military action, "everybody is obliged to follow through". The US appears confident that the UN demands will be such that the Iraqi regime will not agree to comply. However, another senior US official said it was conceivable that military action could be forestalled by an aggressive inspections regime. "It's a high barrier. Inspections have to be truly unconditional. It's important that at the end of the day it's Saddam who must prove he's in compliance. The burden of proof is on him, not on the US or the UN."