US admits Iraqi arms inspections could take months

The Bush administration acknowledged yesterday that it may take "months" for weapons inspectors in Iraq to do their work – but warned again that if they failed to force Saddam Hussein to disarm, the US would lead a coalition to perform the task by force.

"You need to do your job," Mr Bush admonished the world body during a campaign stop in South Dakota, five days before next week's finely balanced congressional mid-term elections. "We want the resolution you pass to be listened to."

Yesterday, US officials were confident they were edging towards a compromise on a resolution's wording with France – whose support is expected to tip enough waverers on the 15-member Security Council to permit the US to get the nine "yes" votes it needs, while avoiding a veto from either China or Russia, two other permanent council members.

But for all the optimism, there is no guarantee a deal will be done. The timing, moreover, continues to slip. Demands that the UN make up its mind on Iraq by the end of this week have now given way to a prediction by Colin Powell, the Secretary of State, that the key vote was now unlikely before later next week.

General Powell added that the inspection process could take months – words which at face value could portend considerable slippage in the administration's preferred timetable, to have the diplomatic and military decks cleared for an attack against President Saddam early next year.

His words reflect two goals of the Bush administration which all too easily collide with each other: the need to convince a largely sceptical Security Council – and world – that it sincerely does want UN inspectors to return to Iraq, yet to keep its hands free to attack if and when it chooses.

US officials say the problems have been narrowed to a few phrases, above all the term "material breach" for an Iraqi infringement, which is generally seen as a trigger automatically authorising the use of force. The US wants it in the first resolution. The French would like to have it in language stipulating that the Security Council reconvenes to consider what to do if Iraq does thwart the inspectors in their search.

Theoretically, Mr Powell's words push any moment of truth with Baghdad back to late February. Assuming a resolution does go through next week, Iraq would have seven days to accept it, and 30 days to provide a full inventory of its chemical, biological, nuclear and missile programmes. Within 45 days of the resolution, the inspectors would be back in Iraq, and 60 days later would be required to make a first report.

But the process contains several tripwires. A refusal to co-operate with the inspectors for instance, General Powell warned, would constitute "an immediate red line". Far sooner, Baghdad would stray over that line if it were to reject the terms of the resolution outright.

Polls in the US suggest public support for military action may be slipping. Though a majority still backs the use of force, the figure has slipped from 64 per cent in August to 55 per cent today, according to the Pew Research Centre. Of those approving, 23 per cent say the US should not act alone.

The survey follows several large anti-war demonstrations in Washington and other US cities last weekend. There are also signs of stirrings against war with Iraq on hitherto passive college campuses.

Yesterday the Pentagon offered a one week course for would-be war correspondents, teaching them battlefield survival skills – including field training featuring five-mile treks carrying 25lbs of equipment.