US presents final Iraq resolution

UNITED NATIONS -- The United States took a final revision of its Iraq resolution to the Security Council Wednesday in hopes of winning approval after eight weeks of tumultuous negotiations with wary allies concerned it could trigger a new war against Saddam Hussein.\nThe draft has changed significantly since it was first introduced last month, but U.S. officials said the bottom line remains the same: tough new weapons inspections coupled with a threat of "serious consequences" if Iraq fails to comply.\nWhile the revised draft offers major concessions to critics, it still frees the Bush administration to take military action against Iraq without a second resolution.\nIn an attempt to meet French and Russian concerns, the new U.S. draft gives Saddam "a final opportunity" to comply with U.N. inspectors, holds out the possibility of lifting sanctions against Iraq, and adds a reaffirmation of Iraq's sovereignty.\nBut it remains to be seen whether the latest draft, written with British support, will satisfy Russia, France and others.\nRussia's Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Fedotov said Wednesday that Moscow remains opposed to any wording that would give Washington a free hand in launching military action.\n"We still believe that it's necessary to ensure that the new resolution contains no automatic mechanism for the use of force," Fedotov said, according to the ITAR-Tass news agency.\nU.S. diplomats met earlier Wednesday with the four other veto-wielding permanent council members -- Russia, France, Britain and China -- before sharing the new text with the other 10 elected members.\nU.S. Ambassador John Negroponte said he wanted a vote "be week's end."\n"We certainly believe that this is a resolution that deserves consensus support," Negroponte said.\nWednesday's consultations follow an extensive round of last-minute diplomacy. Secretary of State Colin Powell spoke Tuesday to his French, Russian, Mexican and British counterparts.\nA U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Powell worked out some of the final points on key issues with French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin.\nBut a French diplomat said Paris has not signed off on the new U.S. draft.\n"It's too early to say we have an official position on a text," the diplomat said late Tuesday. "We have to see the text. We must send it to Paris and our government, including the president, will have a careful look at the entire text, not only one or two paragraphs."\nAnother council diplomat called it "a partial deal" that still needs work.