March 01, 2008	Saturday	Safar 22, 1429

UNITED NATIONS: A Security Council vote on new UN sanctions on Iran over its nuclear defiance has been postponed to at least Monday as sponsors seek to enlist broader support, a Western diplomat said on Friday.

The diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the vote, which had been expected on Saturday, would now take place on Monday at the earliest so the sponsors “can get as broad support as possible.”

Britain and France, the two co-sponsors of the draft, Friday put the finishing touches to the text, which puts Tehran on notice that it must comply with earlier Security Council demands to suspend its uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities.

The sponsors engaged in last-minute bargaining on Friday to try to win over Vietnam and South Africa, two of four countries — along with Indonesia and Libya — which see fresh sanctions as counter-productive.

Adoption of the text is a foregone conclusion as it has already been agreed by the five veto-wielding members of the council — Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States. And the sponsors have enough support among the 10 non-permanent members to ensure passage, which requires nine votes and no veto.—AFP