US envoy starts Paris-Moscow mission

Moscow and Paris have veto power over any new Iraq

By Jon Leyne Washington correspondent

The United States is sending a top official to Paris and Moscow to discuss a proposed new UN resolution on Iraq.

Under-Secretary for Political Affairs at the State Department Marc Grossman's visit starts on Friday and comes amid reports that the US Government is having difficulty getting through the tough new resolution on Iraq that it has been demanding.

Both France and Russia are crucial to the current debate on Iraq.

Both have vetoes on the Security Council. Both are at odds with US policy.

France wants a two-stage approach, with the first of two UN Security Council resolutions just laying out the UN's demands on Iraq.

Russia is continuing to insist that no new resolution is necessary before weapons inspectors return.

Mr Grossman is scheduled to continue to Moscow on Saturday, after his meetings in Paris.

Iraq deadline

By contrast, the United States wants one tough resolution specifying serious consequences for Iraq if it does not comply.

According to the New York Times newspaper, the American draft resolution would set a two-month deadline for the Iraqis to show that they are co-operating with UN weapons inspectors.

These differences mean it is unlikely that a new resolution will be passed before the chief weapons inspector, Hans Blix, meets the Iraqis in Vienna next week.

It would be most unlikely for France or Russia to veto a resolution the Americans want so badly.

Nevertheless, it sounds as if they are playing tough, holding out for more concessions from Washington.