The European Union has invited UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to address an emergency summit on the crisis next Monday, diplomatic sources said today.
They said Mr Annan had in principle accepted the invitation from Greece, the current holders of the EU presidency.
The informal Brussels summit will come three days after UN weapons inspectors report to the Security Council on their latest talks in Baghdad on trying to eliminate Iraq's suspected weapons of mass destruction.
"The idea is that Annan would brief the leaders on the situation. The Greeks thought that could help build consensus," one EU diplomat said.
The sources said that by designating the summit an informal meeting of EU leaders rather than an "extraordinary European Council", Greece had avoided the need for agreed conclusions.
There could be a joint statement if there was consensus, but there did not have to be one, they said.
The EU is deeply split between countries led by Britain and Spain - which back US threats of early military action against Baghdad - and a group led by France and Germany that is demanding more time for UN arms inspections and oppose any rush to war.