US Secretary of State Colin Powell said today the Bush government was still confident the UN Security Council would pass a new resolution authorising war on Iraq.
Speaking on NBC television's Meet The Pressprogramme, he also warned the Iraqi President Saddam Hussein that "time has just about run out".
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Mr Powell admitted the success of a new US-British-Spanish resolution that could open the way for war was unclear but he hoped it would get nine or ten votes at the UN Security Council.
The resolution is expected to be voted on this week. The United States hopes there could be a vote as early as Tuesday.
"I'm encouraged by discussions I have been having," Mr Powell said.
He said most of the ten non-permanent members of the council were making up their minds this weekend. Asked if the United States would get the nine votes needed for the resolution to pass, he answered: "That's not clear yet."
"I'm encouraged that we might get the nine or ten votes and we'll see if someone wants to veto it."
Mr Powell said that neither China, France nor Russia - who oppose the new resolution - had officially said they would veto it.
Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States are permanent members of the council who can veto any resolution.
Mr Powell indicated that a March 17th deadline for a disarmament decision mentioned in the new draft resolution on Iraq may not remain valid if the resolution were defeated at the Security Council.
He said a decision would be made by US President George W. Bush, but added that "time has just about run out" for Iraq to avoid war.
"Time is running out and when that time elapses then that regime must be changed," he said.
The United States and Britain have massed about 250,000 troops in the Gulf ready for any war.
AFP