Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, March 08, 2003
US Seeks UN Council Vote on Iraq 'from Tuesday onwards'
The United States asked UN Security Council members to be prepared to vote on a draft resolution authorizing force against Iraq "from Tuesday onwards," the US permanent representative to the United Nations, John Negroponte, said here Friday.
The United States asked UN Security Council members to be prepared to vote on a draft resolution authorizing force against Iraq "from Tuesday onwards," the US permanent representative to the United Nations, John Negroponte, said here Friday.
"There will be no vote on Monday but we are advising delegations to advise their governments to be prepared to vote as early as Tuesday, from Tuesday onwards," Negroponte said.
The US ambassador made the remarks when answering questions from reporters after 15 council members spent several hours behind closed doors to discuss the issue of Iraq.
The United States, Britain and Spain on Friday amended their draft resolution to include a March 17 ultimatum for Iraq to obey disarmament demands or face war in an effort to get wavering council members to support possible military action.
Also on Friday, the British ambassador to the United Nations, Jeremy Greenstock, said that he expects no UN council vote on the draft resolution by Tuesday.
Asked when the council might vote on the amended US-British-Spanish draft resolution, Greenstock said, "I don't expect a vote earlier than Tuesday."
The Security Council will meet again on Monday to discuss the Iraq issue, Greenstock said. UN officials said the meeting was scheduled for 4:00 p.m. EST (2100 GMT) on Monday.
Under the UN Charter, nine yes votes from the 15-member council would approve the measure, so long as none of the five permanent members uses its veto power.