Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar has had little success convincing Mexico to support a new US/Britain-sponsored UN resolution against Baghdad.
After 90 minutes of talks between Aznar, one of the staunchest US allies in the Iraq crisis, and President Vicente Fox, the Mexican leader's office released a statement that fell well short of offering backing for any attack on Iraq.
Mr Aznar called for unity in the UN Security Council, of which both Spain and Mexico are temporary members.
"We agree that the Security Council must be the central axis in the effort to guarantee peace and security in the world and that its resolutions should not only be respected but also complied with," he said after talks with Mr Fox.
Mr Fox's government has so far called for UN arms inspectors in Iraq to be given more time to carry out their mission, as France wants.