US Secretary of State Colin Powell intends to speak to the UN Security Council on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction for an hour and a half, diplomats said today.
A US official, who declined to confirm the length of Mr Powell's speech tomorrow, said it would be accompanied by an Iraqi defector.
The meeting is due to start at 10.30 a.m. (3.30 Irish time) and Mr Powell will speak first.
The other 14 council members, most of whom will also be represented by their foreign ministers, have been asked to limit their speeches to 10 minutes.
The council met for consultations behind closed doors today and was expected to decide whether or not to allow Iraq's ambassador to the United Nations, Mr Mohammed al-Douri, to reply to Mr Powell.
Since the meeting will be in public, Iraq, like any other UN member state, has a right to attend. But it is not a member of the council and has no right to speak in a debate unless other members agree to invoke Article 37 of the rules of procedure.
AFP