France, July 09:The UN Security Council indicated on Monday that most of its members want to see talks continue between UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri. Jeremy Greenstock, the British ambassador to the United Nations whose country holds the rotating presidency of the Council, told journalists the return of arms inspectors to Iraq remained "the key" to lifting sanctions against Baghdad. The punitive measures have been in place since the end of the Gulf War 12 years ago.
"There is no way forward without the return of the inspectors," Greenstock said. "That is the key to unlocking the end of sanctions."
The Security Council was briefed on Monday by Iqbal Riza, the secretary general`s chief of staff, on negotiations between Annan and Sabri last Thursday and Friday in Vienna.

The two-day talks -- the third in a series since the dialogue between the United Nations and Iraq reopened at the beginning of the year -- did not yield an agreement.
"Certainly the great majority of the members of the council want these discussions to continue," Greenstock said.
"According to the Secretary General, the Iraqis are going back to their capital to discuss the results of the Vienna talks and will come back to him on further thoughts.
"I think he wants to wait for that before he makes any final conclusions," Greenstock said.