January 24, 2003	Friday	Ziqa’ad 20, 1423

WASHINGTON, Jan 23: The White House said on Thursday that a second UN Security Council resolution on Iraq, perhaps authorizing military action to disarm Baghdad, was “a possibility”.

“It’s not clear at this time. It’s premature to make any judgments about it. It’s a possibility,” said spokesman Ari Fleischer, who said US President George Bush “thinks it’s very important to work in close concert with our allies.”

But Security Council President Jean-Marc de la Sabliere ruled out such a possibility, saying it was doubtful that a majority of the 15 council members were ready to adopt a new resolution.

De La Sabliere, France’s ambassador to the United Nations, told reporters: “I have not been informed that there is a possibility of a second resolution.”

He added: “I am not sure that the majority of the members of the council are be ready to adopt a second resolution.”

A resolution needs the support of at least nine of the 15 council members in order to be adopted.

Speaking as a representative of France, not as council president, De La Sabliere said “we see no need for another resolution at the time being,” because UN weapons inspections are proceeding in Iraq.

“As long as the mechanism set up by Resolution 1441 is producing results towards the goal of the peaceful disarmament of Iraq, we see no need for a deadline,” he said.—AFP