US draws up second Iraq resolution
BBC News - World Edition

Washington has confirmed it is drafting a fresh UN resolution on Iraq which could be ready for consideration by the Security Council within days.

"We are working with our friends and allies to see if we can get a second resolution," President George W Bush said in Washington.

But he repeated that UN backing, though useful, was not necessary.

Washington's moves come as European leaders - who have been deeply divided over the issue of war - continue to argue about supporting America's hawkish stance.

It also came within hours of America's strategic ally Turkey declaring that a second UN resolution would be required before it would permit US troops to use its bases to attack neighbouring Iraq.

In other developments:

The Pentagon ordered 28,000 more troops to the Gulf, including the highly mobile 3rd Armoured Cavalry Regiment

Pope John Paul II stressed the role of the UN in the crisis at a meeting with Secretary General Kofi Annan in the Vatican

The UN reported slow progress on interviewing Iraqi scientists in private with only three such meetings to date

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair - America's closest public ally on the issue - has made clear he would like a second resolution explicitly authorising the use of force against Iraq.

Facing deep public hostility at home over his support for war, Downing Street officials hope that a resolution sanctioned by the UN would win over doubters.

For its part, the US has indicated that while a resolution is desirable, it would be prepared to lead a "coalition of the willing" into war without explicit UN backing.

Asked about the anti-war demonstrations that drew millions at the weekend, President Bush said war was his last choice but the risk of doing nothing was a worse option.

"Some in the world don't view Saddam Hussein as a risk to peace," Mr Bush said. "I respectfully disagree."

The governments of France, Russia and China - who along with the US and Britain wield vetoes in the Council - have also expressed clear reservations about war.

French President Jacques Chirac on Monday said that he would oppose any effort to draft a resolution authorising war at this time, and implied he would be prepared to use the French veto to block it.

Toned down

In the face of strong opposition from France and other Security Council members, diplomats say the US and Britain are toning down what was supposed to be a very tough resolution.

The strategy may be to repeat the threat of serious consequences against Iraq rather an explicit call for military action.

The BBC's Jon Leyne in Washington says Bush administration officials have hinted they are prepared to continue with diplomacy, at last into next month.

In another diplomatic move, European Union candidate countries have endorsed Monday's compromise statement on Iraq by EU leaders.

Their declaration backed continued weapons inspections, but also stressed they could not go on indefinitely.

But another row continues to simmer after President Jacques Chirac of France sharply rebuked several EU candidate countries, mainly from the former Soviet bloc, for their decision to publicly back the US on Iraq.

Mr Chirac called them "childish", "dangerous" and said they should have kept their mouths shut.

In response, the countries said they had the right to express their own views.

The Czech Deputy Foreign Minister Alexandr Vondr suggested Mr Chirac seemed to be "bullying" the candidates.

They were backed by Mr Blair, who said they obviously realised the value of Europe and America sticking together.

In what is being seen as an attack on Mr Chirac, he added: "People who want to pull Europe and America apart are playing the most dangerous game in international politics I know."