The United Nations Security Council has reconvened to continue its deliberations on Iraq.
The 15 members are considering a six-point plan submitted by Britain that would verify that Iraq had disarmed.
Germany has said a compromise in the UN Security Council on Iraq is unlikely, even if a vote to authorise force against Iraq is put off until next week.
Vote may not take place - Powell
Earlier, US Secretary of State Colin Powell said it was possible that there may not be a vote on a second UN Security Council resolution that could pave the way to war against Iraq.
Mr Powell told a congressional committee that the options on the resolution remain open.
The US has said that a vote on any resolution may be postponed for several days.
The White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said that the diplomatic process underway may conclude tomorrow or may continue into next week.
He said the US was determined to bring the resolution to a vote even if it lacked the support needed to pass.
The Security Council is still deeply divided, and the prospect of a veto still hanging over every 'compromise' suggestion.
Iraq's Foreign Minister, Naji Sabri, rejected Britain's new proposals on so-called tests for Iraq to avoid war.
'It is an attempt to embellish the draft resolution for war' put forward by Britain, Spain and the United States, Mr Sabri told the Arabic-language Al-Jazeera station.
'We reject any proposal that is contrary to the measures adopted by the Security Council on the question of weapons of mass destruction in resolution 1441,' he said.
Straw blasts French rejection
In London, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw attacked a French decision to reject Britain's latest proposals to disarm Iraq and head off war.
Speaking to reporters outside Downing Street, Mr Straw said: 'I find it extraordinary that without even proper consideration the French government have decided they will reject these proposals.'
Russia has reiterated its opposition to intervention in Iraq.
Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said in Dushanbe today that any resolution which 'paves the path, either directly or indirectly, to a military action against Iraq' would be vetoed.
Royal visit postponed
Meanwhile, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II is postponing a visit to Belgium next week on the advice of the government.
The Queen had been due to visit Belgium's King Albert II and the NATO headquarters.
The Foreign Office said later it was ‘not appropriate’ for the queen to leave the country ‘in the present circumstances’.
