The Chief UN weapons inspector Dr Hans Blix plans to deliver on Monday a list of more than 30 unresolved questions about Iraqi disarmament to his advisory board, which some nations want to turn into an ultimatum for Iraq.
The list is in preparation for a report to the 15-member UN Security Council that Blix will submit in writing, possibly as early as next week, followed by an oral presentation tentatively scheduled for March 7th, diplomats said.
The United States and Britain are expected to introduce a draft resolution on Monday seeking UN authorisation for war against Iraq, the envoys said. But the two countries are not expected to push it to a vote before hearing the report from Dr Blix, another sign no military action is planned for until after the first week of March.
Dr Blix's questions are expected to be presented in the form of "clusters" to 16 commissioners from the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission that Blix heads. This advisory group, composed of technical experts and government officials, meet at the United Nations on Monday and Tuesday.
Some Security Council members have suggested the list be used as an ultimatum to Iraq in an effort to bridge differences between US plans to go to war and those who want inspections to continue for an unspecified time.
But dates mentioned for a deadline, such as the end of March or mid-April, would probably be too late to suit plans by the US military to an attack.
Germany, consonant with its anti-war policy, diplomats said, had first raised the list of remaining tasks that Iraq should fulfill, which are contained in a 1999 resolution, but without giving a deadline that could lead to military action.
Canada, which does not have a council seat but whose country has considerable influence with undecided members, took the proposal on Wednesday to an open meeting on Iraq.
Of the 15 members of the security Council, only Spain and Bulgaria so far have given firm support to the United States and Britain. Other members either want inspections to continue or are uncomfortable in having to take sides.
The resolution had been expected to circulate this week but diplomats said it was delayed while negotiations between US and British officials continued and because President Bush first wanted to brief Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, who visits this weekend.
The draft is expected to say Iraq is in "further material breach" of a November 8th resolution and that serious consequences will ensue, a State Department official said.