A DIVIDED U.N. Security Council appeared to be heading for a standoff over a new ultimatum to Iraq, with the United States stepping up preparations for war even as weapons inspectors planned their return to Baghdad.

　　A day after Iraq’s surprise decision to allow the inspectors back in after nearly four years, the near-global support for the Security Council to get tough on Iraq shattered Tuesday with Russia and Arab nations now opposing the U.S. demand for action.

　　U.S. President George W. Bush wasn’t backing down from his tough speech to the U.N. General Assembly on Thursday threatening action against Iraq if it did not allow the inspectors back.

　　He urged the Security Council not to be “fooled” by Iraq’s about-face, and his administration disclosed plans for moving B-2 bombers closer to Baghdad, preparing for possible war to remove President Saddam Hussein.

　　The unraveling of support for new U.N. action against Iraq was swift.

　　U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov clashed at a news conference over the need for a new Security Council resolution that would set a deadline for the return of inspectors and threaten consequences if Iraq doesn’t cooperate.

　　The exchange between the two veto-wielding council members set the stage for difficult negotiations if the United States introduces a tough anti-Iraq resolution, as expected.

　　“We have seen this game before,” Powell said of the Iraqi offer of inspections. He called for a new resolution to keep the pressure on Iraq “to make sure that we satisfy the need for disarmament.”

　　But Ivanov said there was no need for a new resolution.

　　“Russia believes that the main job now is to see to it that the inspectors, without any artificial delays or obstacles, should go to Iraq and get down to discharging their functions,” he said.

　　A majority of the 15-member Security Council decided, despite a U.S. request for more time, to quickly schedule a meeting with chief weapons inspector Hans Blix to discuss renewed inspections.

　　Arab ministers, who led the campaign to get Saddam’s government to allow the inspectors back, now support the Russian position on Iraq: No new resolution is needed and let’s get the inspectors back quickly.

　　France, another veto-wielding council member, called for a quick test of Iraq’s motives. “We must not lose time, act quickly, send in the inspectors,” said Francois Rivasseau, a spokesman for the French Foreign Ministry.

　　But Britain, Canada, the European Union and Colombia remained doubtful about the inspections. 

　　(SD-Agencies)

　　A DIVIDED U.N. Security Council appeared to be heading for a standoff over a new ultimatum to Iraq, with the United States stepping up preparations for war even as weapons inspectors planned their return to Baghdad.

　　A day after Iraq’s surprise decision to allow the inspectors back in after nearly four years, the near-global support for the Security Council to get tough on Iraq shattered Tuesday with Russia and Arab nations now opposing the U.S. demand for action.

　　U.S. President George W. Bush wasn’t backing down from his tough speech to the U.N. General Assembly on Thursday threatening action against Iraq if it did not allow the inspectors back.

　　He urged the Security Council not to be “fooled” by Iraq’s about-face, and his administration disclosed plans for moving B-2 bombers closer to Baghdad, preparing for possible war to remove President Saddam Hussein.

　　The unraveling of support for new U.N. action against Iraq was swift.

　　U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov clashed at a news conference over the need for a new Security Council resolution that would set a deadline for the return of inspectors and threaten consequences if Iraq doesn’t cooperate.

　　The exchange between the two veto-wielding council members set the stage for difficult negotiations if the United States introduces a tough anti-Iraq resolution, as expected.

　　“We have seen this game before,” Powell said of the Iraqi offer of inspections. He called for a new resolution to keep the pressure on Iraq “to make sure that we satisfy the need for disarmament.”

　　But Ivanov said there was no need for a new resolution.

　　“Russia believes that the main job now is to see to it that the inspectors, without any artificial delays or obstacles, should go to Iraq and get down to discharging their functions,” he said.

　　A majority of the 15-member Security Council decided, despite a U.S. request for more time, to quickly schedule a meeting with chief weapons inspector Hans Blix to discuss renewed inspections.

　　Arab ministers, who led the campaign to get Saddam’s government to allow the inspectors back, now support the Russian position on Iraq: No new resolution is needed and let’s get the inspectors back quickly.

　　France, another veto-wielding council member, called for a quick test of Iraq’s motives. “We must not lose time, act quickly, send in the inspectors,” said Francois Rivasseau, a spokesman for the French Foreign Ministry.

　　But Britain, Canada, the European Union and Colombia remained doubtful about the inspections. 

　　(SD-Agencies)