Prime Minister Tony Blair has been President Bush's most supportive European ally on this issue.

In the face of opposition from his own cabinet and party he has said that the UK would back military action against Iraq without a new UN resolution.

The UK, co-sponsored by the US and Spain, has submitted a new draft resolution to the Council accusing Iraq of failing to disarm in line with previous resolutions.

In January, the UK announced the deployment of 35,000 troops to the Gulf region.