Q&A: Iraq briefing

Q&A: Iraq briefing

As part of a series of regular briefings, BBC News Online answers key questions about current issues in the Iraq crisis.

Today we look at the last hopes for diplomacy and ask how close we are to war.

How much more time will diplomacy be given?

The signs are that Washington is losing patience with the attempts to get a second Security Council resolution authorising war.

Washington has said it is ready to wait until next week, but Secretary of State Colin Powell has also indicated that the US might abandon attempts altogether to hold a vote if it cannot be sure at least of a majority in favour.

The UK has said that it will be continuing to try to win over the council until Monday.

What happened to the idea of a deadline for Iraqi disarmament?

Some Security Council members had wanted weapons inspectors to be given a month or more to continue their work. Washington dismissed the idea of allowing Iraq to have even 10 more days beyond the 17 March deadline originally proposed by the UK.

It is still possible that a slightly extended deadline might be agreed. Iraq would have to demonstrate complete compliance and commitment to disarming - such as accounting for stockpiles of anthrax, chemical agents and other weapons.

A British proposal setting out six specific conditions that Iraq would have to meet has been rejected by France.

Assuming the diplomacy fails, how close are we to a war?

There are plenty of signs that war is days, rather than weeks, away.

The US has begun deploying B-2 stealth bombers to Diego Garcia, American B-52 bombers are being armed in the UK and ships carrying Tomahawk cruise missiles are being deployed closer to Iraq. All this hardware is expected to be used in the early stages of a war.

The last-minute rush of foreign nationals from Iraq has not begun yet. UN inspectors and staff managing the oil-for-food programme are still in Iraq. Non-essential UN staff have already been moved out.

Most diplomats in Baghdad have already left. Poland, which represents US and UK interest in Iraq, has evacuated all staff. Other countries are thinning their staff.

In Britain, the government has advised the Queen to postpone a visit to Belgium next week.

What might the final signals be that war is imminent?

President George Bush would be expected to make a national address announcing that the US is going to war. Prime Minister Blair might well do the same.

A sure sign of war would be the withdrawal of all UN staff from Iraq - the weapons inspectors above all. An Unmovic spokesperson has said that the agency would ideally like 48 hours warning, but could evacuate all staff in

In such conflicts, journalists tend to get a warning to leave or take cover just as hostilities are engaged.

Is Turkey still important for US military planners or have they given up?

Washington is still keen to open a second front against Iraq through Turkey, and is still hopeful that the Turkish parliament will agree to allow 62,000 troops to be sent to the country.

A draft resolution on US troop deployments was rejected by the Turkish parliament nearly two weeks ago and the Ankara Government is now coming under pressure from Washington for a new vote.