Negative reaction to US Iraq proposal

Britain, China, France and Russia have issued statements on a US proposal to pass a tough new resolution on Iraqi disarmament, backed by the threat of military action.

China said the UN Security Council should help to promote a political resolution to the Iraqi issue.

Russia said no ultimatum threatening military action should be made against Iraq when UN weapons inspectors had not resumed their work in the country.

This morning, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister, Alexander Saltanov, said that Russia opposed the automatic use of force against Iraq.

France and Germany have taken similar positions, although France has said it might consider military action if weapons inspectors found that Iraq was developing weapons of mass destruction.

Jacques Myard, a member of the French Foreign Affairs committee, said the United States should not be given a blank mandate.

The German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, who met President Chirac of France in Paris last night, said he had made his position clear before the recent German elections and that nothing had changed.

Blair says new resolution essentialThe British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, in a BBC radio interview this morning, said the UN must a adopt tough new resolution on Iraq before the return of UN arms inspectors after a four-year absence.

Mr Blair also said a new resolution was "absolutely essential".

He urged the international community to present a united front on Iraq, in order to avoid "mixed signals", which he said could increase the likelihood of military action.

Blix briefs UN Security CouncilThe chief UN arms inspector, Hans Blix, met the Security Council to explain arrangements he has agreed with Iraq for resuming inspections this month.

Blix addressed the council on talks he held in Vienna on Monday and Tuesday with a delegation led by Amir El-Sadi, a special adviser to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

El-Sadi told a joint news conference after the talks that he expected the UN inspectors to arrive in Iraq in two weeks, but the United States said it would stop them going until the council adopts a new resolution.