US President George W Bush says he will publish within days a proposed congressional resolution authorising him to take action against Iraq.
Mr Bush was speaking after a meeting with congressional leaders at the White House. He said Congress had given him a commitment to pass a resolution on Iraq before its pre-election break in October.
He said such a resolution would send an 'important signal for the world to see that this country is united in our resolve to deal with threats that we face'.
Mr Bush's moves for a new UN resolution on Iraq have been weakened by Iraq's offer to readmit UN weapons inspectors.
Strong differences of opinion remain between the US and Russia over the significance of the Iraqi offer.
The Bush administration is continuing to press for the UN Security Council to go ahead with the drafting of a tough new resolution on Iraq, authorising force if necessary.
President Bush said the Council must not be fooled and must act in the interests of peace.
A Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said Moscow took a different view at present.
Less than 24 hours after Iraq's unconditional offer, the United Nations chief weapons inspector, Hans Blix, met Iraqi officials in New York.
The two sides discussed practical arrangements about how and when the inspection teams could return.
The talks lasted an hour and the two sides are to meet again in Vienna at the end of next week.
