The White House said on Tuesday a U.N. Security Council vote on Iraq would take place this week and rejected a proposal to extend the deadline for Baghdad to disarm by one month.
The United States and Britain so far have failed to muster the nine votes needed for passage of a resolution setting the stage for war with Iraq, but White House spokesman Ari Fleischer declared: "The vote will take place this week."
Fleischer also said a plan to extend the deadline for Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to get rid of his alleged weapons of mass destruction to April 17 was "a non-starter."
Meanwhile, Russia repeated on Tuesday its intention to use its U.N. Security Council veto, if necessary, to block the draft resolution on Iraq.
Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov told reporters during a visit to Tehran that Moscow remained opposed to the current proposed resolution.
"Russia is very much against this resolution which is in the works. We will vote against this," Ivanov said through an interpreter at a joint news conference with Iranian Foreign Minster Kamal Kharrazi.
Ivanov also said Russia was studying France's call for a U.N. summit on Iraq involving heads of state and government, leaving open the possibility that President Vladimir Putin might be ready to travel to New York for a Security Council session.
"I believe it is acceptable. It is a proposal that is being extensively studied. Perhaps this will be possible," he said.
Ivanov said Russia believed U.N. weapons inspectors should be given more time to complete their work in Iraq. The fifth permanent member, China, has said it sees no need for a new resolution but has left unclear what it would do if one were put to a vote.
"We don't think new decisions need to be taken," Ivanov said. "Today more than ever we are sure that a political solution is possible. "We have said repeatedly that the Russian Federation will be against any effort which overtly or covertly opens the way to the use of force." (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
