US goes back to UN with new draft

The US is expected to present today its amended draft resolution on the Iraq crisis to the United Nations Security Council, warning of unspecified "consequences" if Baghdad fails to comply with the weapons inspectors.

According to diplomats yesterday, the Bush administration hopes to have the resolution approved by the end of the week, clearing the way for the speedy inspections Washington wants. But this timetable could be derailed.

In Moscow, the Under-Secretary of State, John Bolton, was trying to nail down Russia's support.

France continues in public to insist there must be a second resolution before a military attack on Iraq.

The diplomatic flurry came as Washington's efforts to link Saddam Hussein's regime with al-Qa'ida received a blow with reports that Czech officials have concluded that Mohammed Atta, the ringleader of the 11 September attacks, did not meet Iraqi intelligence agents in Prague before the attacks.

That message was conveyed quietly to Mr Bush by President Vaclav Havel, according to The New York Times. It will disappoint hawks who have used the alleged meeting as proof of ties between Iraq and Osama bin Laden's organisation – claiming Iraq is therefore a direct threat to US security.

The most likely scenario is the so-called "one-and-a-half resolution" outcome, under which the first resolution would commit the security council to consider further steps. This would meet Washington's refusal to have its hands tied by the UN, yet satisfy French insistence on a two stage process.