The United States is confident it will have its way in a U.N. vote expected tomorrow to approve a US-sponsored resolution threatening Iraq with war unless it disarms.
France and Russia, which want to make sure there are no "hidden triggers" that would allow Washington to attack Iraq whenever it chooses, want more changes and U.S. officials say there is some room to negotiate.
French President Jacques Chirac, visiting Rome, said there were a "few ambiguities to clear up" but that it was a "matter of hours" before outstanding issues would be resolved.
Hoping for a 15-0 decision in the U.N. Security Council decision, some diplomats believe the vote could be delayed if it appeared that Iraq's neighbour Syria, which opposes the draft, might give its support. Syria wants to wait until Monday because of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan.
"We may have a tweaked resolution later this afternoon but we want a vote tomorrow," said Richard Grenell, spokesman for U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte.
The revised American text, the third one after eight weeks of arduous negotiations, included concessions that would give the U.N. Security Council a limited role before any military attack. But it still leaves Washington free to strike Iraq if it does not cooperate with U.N. arms inspectors trying to account for Baghdad's weapons of mass destruction.
"For the council, the issue is disarmament," U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan told journalists. "If Iraq co-operates and the inspectors can get that work done then I think the council will be less inclined to think in terms of military action."
Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose country has raised the most objections, also involved himself in the negotiations, speaking by telephone to both U.S. President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
France and Russia, along with the United States, Britain and China have veto power in the Security Council but are not expected to use it. However, the United States and Britain, which is co-sponsoring the draft, want to avoid abstentions from major powers and present a united front to Iraq.
A minimum of nine votes and no veto is required for adoption of a resolution by the 15-member Security Council.
China was optimistic the measure could be adopted. "I think we are near," said Zhang Yishan, Beijing's deputy ambassador.
The U.S. text calls for a new round of Security Council deliberations if Iraq fails to comply with U.N. weapons inspections, a major concession to France. The council could then authorise force but the resolution does not require it.
The document declares Iraq in "material breach" of its disarmament obligations, a term that has been invoked by the United States to allow a military strike. It says Iraq has "a final opportunity" to scrap its weapons of mass destruction and threatens "serious consequences."
The teeth of the resolution come in paragraph 4, which has drawn the most objections from France and Russia. This provision declares Iraq in "further material breach" if Baghdad submits "false statements or omissions" and refuses to cooperate with the U.N. weapons inspectors.
The inspectors are required to report serious violations immediately to the U.N. Security Council "for assessment." But new language allows the United States to circumvent the inspectors and report Iraqi violations to the council if the inspectors fail to do so.
The six-page draft gives U.N. arms inspectors unrestricted inspection rights, including scrutiny of President Saddam Hussein's palace compounds.
Chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix said an advance team would go to Baghdad within 10 days after the resolution is approved. He and Mohammed ElBaradei, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, in charge of nuclear inspection teams, have 45 days to begin work and submit a report to the council within 60 days thereafter.
Once the resolution is adopted, Iraq has seven days to accept its terms and 30 days to submit a declaration of all programs to develop nuclear, chemical, biological or ballistic weapons and all related materials.
British Ambassador Sir Jeremy Greenstock and Negroponte emphasised that the resolution was not a call to arms.
"This is about the disarmament of Iraq through inspections and by peaceful means," Greenstock said. "This is not about triggers. This is not about the use of force."
The new resolution showed a considerable shift by the Bush administration compared to the first draft in late September. Dropped since then were demands to use force against Iraq, regardless of progress in arms inspections.
In the face of widespread opposition, Washington also backed off demands it be allowed to send inspectors and troops with the U.N. teams and suggest what sites they should scrutinise.