The approval of a US-drafted resolution on Iraq, has been thrown into doubt after deep reservations expressed UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
Spanish Ambassador Mr Inocencio Arias, who supports the US position, acknowledged at least six nations of the 15 Security Council members might abstain on a vote on the resolution seeking more troops and money for the effort in the Gulf.
"This would be unacceptable," he told reporters, referring to a drive by Washington and others for unanimity. A minimum of nine votes is needed for adoption.
Mr Annan said the United Nations, which lost senior staff in the August 19th bombing of its Baghdad offices, would continue humanitarian work. But he made clear the United Nations did not want a political role subservient to the US-led occupation and that American plans for restoring sovereignty to Iraq were on the wrong track.
Whereas France alone had been openly critical of the US draft, Mr Annan's comments made the entire Security Council membership reconsider its positions, including ambassadors from Russia, China, Chile, Mexico, Germany and Syria.
"Obviously it is not going in the direction I had recommended," Mr Annan said of the resolution on Thursday.
The US draft offers an expanded but not pivotal role for the United Nations in conjunction with the Iraqi Governing Council and the US-led coalition. It calls for a multinational force under US leadership and proposes a step-by-step transition to self-rule without giving a timetable.
US Ambassador John Negroponte said everyone was still negotiating on the measure. "These were initial reactions and delegations have to consult capitals".
He said the United States was open to suggestions.
Spanish and British envoys, who co-sponsored the draft resolution, acknowledged that adoption was no longer a sure bet.
One said that when there was a split among the permanent five members with veto power - the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China - many other members looked to Mr Annan for guidance.
Chilean Ambassador Heraldo Munoz told reporters that "our doubts have grown" because of Mr Annan's position.
"He was saying things that are not a matter of language - a change here or there - but a problem with the thrust of the resolution," Mr Munoz told reporters.
Diplomats said the United States had two choices: one was to scrap the resolution and continue its own policies in Iraq. But that would make it even more difficult to obtain military and financial aid.
Alternatively, Washington could go back to the drawing board and see if there was a possible compromise in handing over sovereignty within six months, through some kind of indirect elections.