The United Nations Security Council has adjourned a meeting to discuss opposition to the nomination of the Swedish diplomat, Rolf Ekeus, to lead a new United Nations weapons inspection team in Iraq.

Three of the five permanent Council members -- Russia, China and France -- have all objected to his appointment.

Mr Ekeus was leader of the original commission sent to Iraq after the 1991 Gulf War to verify the destruction of weapons of mass destruction.

China has called for the appointment of a commission chairman from a developing country to create a clean break from the old commission.

Iraq withdrew its cooperation with the original team, which it accused of spying.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service