対米全面テロ

VOA News
18 Oct 2002, 23:15 UTC


The U.N. Security Council appears closer to a compromise on Iraq. This, after Washington dropped its demand for a resolution authorizing use of force if Baghdad interferes with U.N. weapons inspectors.

French President Jacques Chirac said Friday he is pleased with new resolution language that warns of unspecified consequences rather than immediate use of military force.

Russia also opposed the original U.S. demand for a resolution authorizing force. On Friday, Moscow said it might back military force if Baghdad blocks inspectors from searching for weapons of mass destruction.

Washington said the proposed resolution preserves U.S. authority to "act in self-defense," and does not require the United States to wait for a second U.N. resolution before launching a military attack.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said he expects a new resolution to pass within a week.

Under the proposed compromise, inspectors would immediately report any Iraqi violation to the Security Council, which would then debate further action.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw also made it clear that his country reserves the right to take military action. He said Britain is entirely committed to the United Nations, but is willing to use force if necessary.

There have been no weapons inspections in Iraq since 1998. U.N. inspectors left the country in December of that year ahead of U.S. and British airstrikes meant to punish Iraq for not cooperating with inspectors.



Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuter.