Washington has raised the stakes in its quest for Security Council backing over Iraq by saying it will table a new resolution declaring Baghdad in material breach of its disarmament obligations - even if the votes are not there to pass it.
The strategy would challenge several nations critical of US policy on the 15-member council to defy the US when the resolution comes to a vote, probably early next month. However, a senior White House official said President Bush remained hopeful he would get the nine necessary votes and avoid a veto.
The US move came as Baghdad made some concessions to UN inspectors, allowing a U2 spy plane to make a second reconnaissance flight over Iraq, and supplying a list of scientists involved in destroying stocks of biological weapons.
Without Iraqi action on three other outstanding issues, the argument could, however, swing in favour of the US resolution, which in being drafted by US and British diplomats at the UN for circulation next week.
The chief UN weapons inspector, Dr Hans Blix, is demanding that Iraq destroy its al-Samoud Two missiles, which UN experts found could travel well over the UN-set limit of 93 miles.
Destroying the missiles, which Iraq denies are illegal, would mean Baghdad giving up part of its defence system on the eve of a probable US-led invasion.
The inspectors are also demanding that Iraqi scientists give interviews without Iraqi "minders" and tape recorders. Since February 7th, scientists have refused these terms.
"We view this with great seriousness," the US Secretary of State, Mr Colin Powell, said yesterday. "What we want is compliance."
Thirdly, the UN has yet to receive additional documents to back Baghdad's claim that it has destroyed all its weapons of mass destruction, despite a pledge to set up a commission to scour the country for evidence.
Dr Blix, head of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC), and Dr Mohamed ElBaradei, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), will report to the Security Council on March 1st, and the US-UK resolution will then be put to a vote, with a possible ultimatum for compliance.
"We won't put a resolution down unless we intend to fight for the resolution; unless we believe we can make the case that it is appropriate," Mr Powell said.
A senior US official travelling with Mr Bush on Air Force One to Texas yesterday said the resolution would be pushed forward whether the US had the votes or not.
"It is time for the Security Council to consider a resolution that says Iraq is in material breach (a term that could trigger war)," a spokesman for the US mission at the UN said.