Russia has issued its first response to the draft US resolution on Iraq, calling the document an unnecessary delay in the return of weapons inspectors.
The comments reflected the sharp differences among members of the UN Security Council on how to proceed after Iraq agreed earlier this week to a plan for the return of weapons inspectors after nearly four years.
Russian officials had studied the American draft, which "only strengthened our belief in the correctness of our position in favor of the soonest resumption of inspection activities in Iraq," Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Saltanov said.
"We believe that a sufficient legal base already exists for the resumption of the UN inspections," Mr Saltanov said in criticising the need for the US draft that significantly toughens the inspection regime.
White House spokesman Ari Fleischer played down Russia's reaction. "It's not going to surprise anybody that from day to day you're going to see different statements from different leaders."
AP