UNITED NATIONS, Nov 7: The United States is expected to make a big push in the UN Security Council on Friday to adopt a tough resolution on Iraq which threatens Baghdad with war if it fails to comply with the conditions set in the mandate.

Diplomats here say that France, Russia and China are coming closer to an agreement on the new draft submitted on Wednesday, but no definitive statements were made on any such commitments.

The six-page resolution which still lays down tough new rules for Iraqi weapons inspections, including unrestricted access to the inspectors to Iraqi president’s palaces was the result of eight weeks of negotiations.

More negotiations are expected to continue on Thursday as US Secretary of State Colin Powell has decided to be at hand to thrash out any last minute changes.

“The resolution makes very clear that this is a final opportunity for Iraq to disarm,” US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said.

“Either they disarm in cooperation with the requirements of the Security Council or they are made to disarm,” he added.

However, France’s Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin told reporters in Paris on Thursday that France was almost satisfied with the US-British text and hoped remaining reservations could be addressed this week.

Earlier, the French President, Jacques Chirac, expressed reservations about ambiguities on the issue of military action.

“We think we are very close to an agreement,” Villepin said on Europe 1 radio. “We think a vote could take place by the end of this week or at the beginning of next week.”

Similarly, Russia’s ambassador here said that his government was studying the draft and would focus on ensuring the resolution does not “include any measure allowing the automatic use of force.”

The new US draft took into account Russia’s position with respect to Iraqi sovereignty and territorial integrity, and a solution to the Iraqi problem which could include lifting of UN sanctions. But the resolution still includes tough language of “serious consequences” if Baghdad balks on inspections.

China’s also said on Thursday the revised US draft resolution had eased some concerns of member states, but declined to say if it would support the measure.

“On the whole, we believe the new US proposals have taken into account and considered the worries and concerns of some of us countries,” a Foreign Ministry spokesman told a news conference in Beijing on Thursday.

China which holds a veto as one of five permanent members of the Security Council, along with the United States, Britain, France and Russia, and is this month’s president of the 15-member Security Council.