UNITED NATIONS, Oct 26: China on Friday broke silence and came out in favour of the French version of UN Security Council resolution on Iraq, saying, “it had problems” with the US version which could possibly be interpreted for a green light for a military strike against Iraq.

France and Russia decided to introduce their own proposals on Friday and challenge the new US draft resolution placing three documents before 15 Security Council nations, setting the stage for tense negotiations.

Talking to reporters, China’s ambassador Wang Yingfan said he had problems with the phrase that Iraq was in “material breach” of UN resolutions, a provision that Russia and France have criticized as a possible green light to war.

“I do not like the words because it could have different interpretations,” Wang told reporters.

China, which has veto power to kill any resolution, with other four permanent members, Russia, France, Britain and the United States, for the first time publicly supported the French position.

France says that the UN weapons inspectors should report first on any Iraqi violation before a military strike is authorized.

Asked whether China would abstain if the US draft resolution was pushed to a vote, Wang said Beijing had not made a decision. But, he said, he hoped to vote in favour of a resolution “which may be accepted by all.”

China’s Ambassador Wang spoke as US President George W. Bush met Chinese President Jiang Zemin. Bush said he asked Jiang to back the US resolution, which demands Iraq cooperate with UN weapons inspectors or face the consequences.

The United States, backed by Britain, wants tough rules for UN weapons inspections and a declaration that Iraq faces “serious consequences” if it fails to comply.

President Bush said on Friday that he would not accept a weak resolution. “Let me put it bluntly: There must be consequences,” he said after discussing Iraq with Chinese President Jiang Zemin.

The three rival documents in the hands of the Security Council members reflect the division among the five veto-wielding permanent council members, who could not resolve their differences over a new approach on Iraq during six weeks of negotiations.

The Security Council discussed the US, Russian and French proposals, diplomats said. The closed-door session provided an initial assessment of where the 15 council members stand.

French diplomats said their proposal was supported by eight council members: Mexico, Cameroon, Guinea, Ireland, Mauritius, France, China and Russia. Syria opposes any new resolution. For adoption, a resolution must receive nine yes votes and no veto by a permanent member.

It remains to be seen whether the United States, Russia or France is prepared to cast a veto and whether the current US draft would get the minimum nine yes votes. French diplomats say they want to negotiate, but Russia has taken a harder line.

“It’s a good day for us,” a French diplomat was quoted as saying. “We think our text should be a good compromise. We think it’s possible.” But an American official countered the French claim saying that the American resolution had the most support.

“We dispute, obviously, their calculation and their number-counting because we count as many, if not more, that are supportive of our resolution,” the official said.

Meanwhile, a Russian envoy observed that “the whole thrust of the (US) concept is anti-Iraq and aimed at possible military action against Iraq in case of any omissions or misunderstandings.”