Diplomats said that there are many options: The US and Britain could force a vote on a resolution to authorize war. They could offer a milder resolution without an explicit authorization. They could try to negotiate a resolution with France, Russia and China, or they could do nothing and let the inspectors continue their work.
De Villepin proposed another ministerial meeting on March 14 to keep up the pressure on Iraq, which was backed by Russia's Ivanov. But Powell said no decision was taken by the council. He noted that chief UN inspector Hans Blix is due to report to the council again on March 1.
In a move that surprised many diplomats, Blix cast doubt on some evidence presented by Powell last week to build the US case against Iraq. He said US satellite photos purportedly showing the movement of munitions at a depot "could just as easily have been a routine activity," rather than one designed to hide banned materials before inspections.
Powell said the US has more evidence to support the claims.
Blix's report also cited improved cooperation by Saddam's government and reported that the hunt for banned arms had thus far failed to find any weapons of mass destruction. On a positive note, he announced that Iraq has accepted a South African offer to send experts who destroyed the country's nuclear, chemical and biological weapons to share their experience.
But Blix said many of Iraq's "proscribed weapons and items are not accounted for," and he again demanded answers to questions about its biological, chemical and long-range missile programs. He also reported that a new Iraqi missile system had a range exceeding the permitted limits.
Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, told the council his inspectors found no evidence Iraq had resumed its nuclear weapons program and said that inspectors could do their jobs without Iraq's full cooperation.
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