MOSCOW, Nov 1: Russia said on Friday the UN security council was nearing an accord on the terms for resuming weapons inspections in Iraq, but added a “serious” disagreement remained over the threat of force.

Hinting at a softening in Russia’s position, Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said “we have come close on a whole range of issues” during negotiations at the United Nations in New York over the past week.

“We are trying to reach a resolution that, in case there is a problem with the work of inspectors, in case Iraq breaches (the inspections programme) ... that this question returned to the security council” so it can approve force, he said in televised remarks.

“And only the security council, after carefully examining this question, can make a decision,” he said. “That is how we should act — in accordance to UN statutes, which among other things, foresee the use of force.”

His comments, made during a Moscow ceremony marking the 200-year anniversary of the Russian foreign ministry, came as Washington said it expected to see a tough new UN resolution approved within the coming week.

However, some “serious differences” over the proposed UN resolution still remain, Russia’s top diplomat said.

Moscow’s differences with Washington and London remain over “the possible consequences for Iraq in case UN weapons inspectors come across problems during their inspections”, said Ivanov.

Ivanov stressed Russia “is categorically against any that allows some to unilaterally, and automatically, use force”.

A US draft would order Iraq to let inspections begin within 45 days and give the inspectors wider powers than before, but Russian officials have said these were “unrealistic”.

The US proposal would also declare Iraq “in material breach” of its obligations under council resolution 687, defining the terms of the Feb 1991 ceasefire, which ended the Gulf war.—AFP