United Nations, Feb 15: The fate of a resolution drafted by US and Britain seeking military action against Iraq hangs in the balance after the dramatic showdown in UN Security Council in which Washington was isolated and rebuffed by most members including allies for its war plans to disarm Baghdad. The United States was virtually isolated in the Council yesterday as major European powers called for giving more time to weapons inspectors, dismissing Washington's demand that they consider taking military action to rid Iraq of Weapons of Mass Destruction. The resolution being drafted by US and staunch ally Britain was supposed to find Iraq in "material breach" and threaten it with "serious consequences" - diplomatic term for military action.
But as it became clear that there is little support for it, US Secretary of States Colin Powell said he would consult with President George Bush and top officials in Washington before taking a decision whether to move it. The rift in the 15-member council widened as the Chief Weapons Inspectors Hans Blix and Muhamad Elbaradei gave credit to Iraq yesterday for increasing cooperation and cast doubts on some evidence based on satellite pictures Powell had presented earlier to buttress US case that Iraq is moving proscribed weapons around to deceive inspectors.
In a rare gesture, French Foreign Minister Dominique De Villepin's impassioned plea for peaceful resolution of Iraqi disarmament issue was greeted with cheers from diplomats sitting on the sides of the Council chamber. Later, they were reminded that cheering is not permitted in the chamber. Bureau Report