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The United States offered a "finial opportunity" for Iraq to comply with its disarmament obligations under relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, according to experts of the latest revised version of the US draft obtained by Xinhua.
The new text, set to be discussed during Wednesday's council meeting, removed notably a paragraph recalling that "the council has repeatedly warned Iraq that it will face serious consequences as a result of its continued violation of its obligations."
After final decisions were made at the White House during Tuesday's congressional elections, the revised draft replaces that paragraph by offering a "finial opportunity" for Iraq to comply.
"(The council) decides ... to afford Iraq, by this resolution, a final opportunity to comply with its disarmament obligations under relevant resolutions of the Council; and accordingly decides to set up an enhanced inspection regime with the aim of bringing to full and verified completion the disarmament process established by resolution 687 (1991) and subsequent resolutions of the Council," the text reads.
The wording for "serious consequences" was seen as "hidden triggers" for military actions and was strongly objected by France and Russia. The key resistants are wary that the term could make the United States deem itself authorized, by the 15-member council, a formal license to go to war against Iraq.
Meanwhile, the council's president Zhang Yishan announced that a closed council meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday morning.
(Xinhua News Agency November 6, 2002)
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