Security Council criticises Iraq

Further divisions have emerged within the United Nations Security Council ollowing Iraq's refusal to allow UN weapons inspectors full access to suspected weapons sites -- notably President Saddam Hussein's palaces.

In its latest resolution, the Council criticised Iraq's behaviour, but stopped short of condemning Baghdad outright as requested by the United States and Britain.

Russia rejected the American request, while the other two permanent members of the Council -- China and France -- objected to other parts of the resolution.

A BBC correspondent in Washington says the United States' main task now is to develop a strategy on Iraq which all permanent members of the Security Council can agree on.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service