The United States, Britain and Spain withdrew their resolution Monday, abandoning attempts to win U.N. backing for a war with Iraq.
British Ambassador Jeremy Greenstock blamed France for threatening to veto the resolution which would have issued Iraq with an ultimatum to disarm by Monday or face military action. "We have had to conclude that council consensus will not be possible," Greenstock said. On his part, U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte said he thought the vote would have "been close."
"We regret that in the face of an explicit threat to veto the vote counting became a secondary consideration," Negroponte said.
Moments later, French ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sabliere said that in one-on-one consultations in the past hours "the majority of the council confirmed they do not want a use of force."
Earlier, British officials accused France of taking pressure off Iraqi President Saddam Hussein just when it was needed most. British Foreign Office Minister Mike O'Brien told BBC Radio that Paris had frustrated the drive to disarm Iraq. "The damage done by this threat of a French veto to the whole diplomatic process has been enormous," he said. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
