The UN Security Council has criticised - but stopped short of condemning - Iraq for limiting the access of its inspectors to weapons sites.

A UN proposal, which was adopted unanimously by the 15-member council, described Iraq's refusal to grant weapons inspectors full and immediate access as "unacceptable and a clear violation of the relevant resolutions".

Iraq and the Security Council remain deadlocked over whether the UN Special Commission's inspectors will be permitted access to Saddam Hussein's weapons sites, which Baghdad describes as essential to its national security and sovereignty.

"It's a very strong statement, sending an unmistakable signal to Iraq to comply to the UN resolutions," said Washington's UN Ambassador, Bill Richardson.

Washington's UN Ambassador Bill Richardson says the resolution is strong, swift and unified

"It's been unanimous, it's been strong, it's been swift."

But the wording of the resolution was toned down from a draft the United States proposed on Friday.

After the Russian Ambassador, Sergey Lavrov, reportedly objected to the draft, the Council omitted the word "condemns" from the statement and included language affirming Iraqi sovereignty.

Before the Security Council meeting, Mr Richardson repeated that there was no prospect of existing UN sanctions on Iraq being lifted.

"Sanctions on Iraq are not going to be lifted while it continues to violate Security Council resolutions," Mr Richardson told reporters.

Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage	©