The United Nations began day-long discussions
on Iraq today with Secretary-General Kofi Annan meeting the Foreign Minister
of France ahead of a Security Council session to hear the latest reports
from weapons inspectors on Iraq's compliance with demands that it rid
itself of weapons of mass destruction.
After Hans Blix, Executive Chairman
of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC),
and Mohamed ElBaradei, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA), present their reports the 15-nation Council will discuss
next steps, with most countries being represented by their foreign ministers.
The Council has before it two different approaches, a draft resolution co-sponsored by Spain, the United Kingdom and United States that would declare that Iraq "has failed to take the final opportunity afforded to it in resolution 1441" to disarm, and a memorandum from France, Germany and the Russian Federation calling for bulked up and continued inspections. More to follow