The heads of key Security Council members are faced with differing views not just in the United Nations but in their own populations and even governments. News Online examines the standing of the leaders of six nations.
France
Mr Chirac has strong backing from his ministers and people
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President Jacques Chirac and his Foreign Minister, Dominique de Villepin, have been two of the most visible and outspoken opponents of any war in Iraq.
As a permanent Security Council member, France has a veto which could derail any resolution it believes would make war inevitable.
Mr Villepin has been leading the arguments in the Security Council to give weapons inspectors longer in Iraq. Last week he hosted his Russian and German counterparts after which they issued a joint statement urging more time for diplomacy.
Earlier, Mr Chirac's hardening stance was credited with having helped to widen the UN divide.
But while French leaders have been criticised by countries, such as Britain, Mr Chirac can be confident of public support.
Polls suggest his official position is well in tune with public feeling: according to a recent survey, 70% of the population think France should use its veto at the Security Council, as President Chirac has threatened to do.
Diplomacy remains the popular choice even though more than 60% of people expected that France's stance was likely to have a negative effect on the economy.
Germany
Mr Schroeder made his anti-war views a vote issue - and won
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Anti-war sentiment is strong in Germany with hundreds of thousands of people taking part in protests.
In this, they support their Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, who became one of the first world leaders to oppose military action in Iraq when he made it an election theme last year.
Recent polls suggest more than three-quarters of Germans are against a war on Iraq.
Mr Schroeder's view has added weight as Germany is a current member of the Security Council.
But Germany's relations with the US - its second-largest trading partner - have suffered as a result, and further bad news is predicted for the economy in the event of war.
Its stand may have brought it closer to allies such as France and Russia, but Germany has failed to find a common voice with countries of the "new Europe".
Russia
Mr Putin is wary of being left out in the cold
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President Vladimir Putin has done his best to avoid public pronouncements on any conflict in Iraq despite Russia's permanent seat - and veto - on the Security Council.
The announcement that Russia would vote against war on Iraq followed a similar move by France and came from Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov rather than Mr Putin.
But while Mr Putin may be wary of becoming estranged from the US, he would have less to fear from his own people.
The mood in Russia is strongly against military action against Iraq.
Despite poor turnout at anti-war protests, a recent poll suggested that more than 80% of Russians oppose war against Iraq.
The BBC's Russian affairs analyst Stephen Dalziel says opposition to the new resolution by Moscow will upset some who believe it foolish to antagonise the Americans.
But he adds it will be welcomed by others who still resent the loss of superpower status and feel that Mr Putin has gained little in practical terms from his support for the US after the 11 September attacks.
Spain
Opinion appears to be turning away from Mr Aznar
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Spain, like Britain, has witnessed millions of people taking to its streets for huge anti-war protests.
Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar has been one of the strongest supporters of the US-UK policy - and has a key vote to cast on the UN Security Council.
But polls suggest that as few as one in six Spaniards backs Mr Aznar's line; surveys also indicate that the popularity of the governing People's Party has fallen below that of the opposition and anti-war Socialists for the first time since Mr Aznar came to power.
The prime minister survived a loyalty vote in the lower house of parliament earlier this month when every member of his party appeared to back him.
But correspondents say his request to Mr Bush for "More Powell, Less Rumsfeld" - referring to the US's diplomatic and defence chiefs - was a reflection of his country's yearning for a peaceful solution.
United Kingdom
Mr Blair has opponents among his usual supporters
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UK Prime Minister Tony Blair is facing continued opposition from members of his own government as well as large sections of public opinion.
But his backing for the US position remains firm despite sometimes intense criticism.
Last weekend a cabinet minister, Clare Short, accused Mr Blair of being "reckless"; the prime minister also suffered the largest parliamentary rebellion of his rule late last month when 122 Labour MPs voted for an amendment which said the case for war had not been proven.
More than one million people gathered in London for an anti-war rally in what became Britain's largest-ever protest.
Opinion polls continue to indicate a majority of the population opposes the use of force against Iraq.
But Mr Blair continues to say he believes the British people will back his course of action.
United States
Mr Bush's view has not wavered - but his popularity has
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As the chief protagonist for action against Iraq, US President George W Bush has not wavered in his demands that Saddam Hussein disarm or be disarmed.
The US continues to spearhead both the military build-up and last-ditch attempts for a second UN resolution but the hard line of the White House can belie the attitude of citizens as well as the rest of the government.
Polls conducted on behalf of the Washington Post newspaper and ABC News indicate public support for Mr Bush's job as president has fallen to about 60% from nearly 80% a year ago.
The latest survey found 59% of respondents backed Mr Bush's Iraq policy.
But the newspaper highlighted that many had reservations - such as proceeding without United Nations backing. It said when the doubters are combined with opponents of military action, the result suggests that more than six in 10 Americans harbour at least some doubts about using force while only a third are unequivocally behind going to war.
Senior administration officials have remained solidly behind Mr Bush, though two diplomats have resigned in protest.
Secretary of State Colin Powell did urge Mr Bush to seek UN authorisation, though reports suggest even he now accepts diplomacy may not solve the crisis.
Technically, Mr Bush has all the authorisation he needs to order an invasion of Iraq as the US Congress gave him permission him to wage war last October - before the Security Council passed it first resolution calling on Iraq to disarm, let alone a second.
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