UNITED NATIONS, Feb 7: All eyes are focused on the visit of UN weapons inspectors Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei to Iraq on Saturday and their critical report to the UN security council on Baghdad’s cooperation.

The majority of Security Council members remained bitterly divided over the future course of action against Baghdad following a discourse and slide show by US Secretary of State Colin Powell in which he presented what he called evidence of Iraq noncompliance with the conditions of resolution 1441 .

Mr Powell insisted that despite the calls for Iraq to come clean on its arms programme it has not given the Council proof that it has disarmed nor proof that it has destroyed its weapons of mass destruction.

He warned that Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction threaten the world and urged the council to move against Saddam or face “irrelevance.” While US and Britain insisted that time was running out for Baghdad to fully cooperate with the UN inspectors majority of council members including the veto wielding permanent members. France Russia and China said that more time should be given to the weapons inspectors and for a peaceful resolution of the crisis.

A majority of Council members were of the opinion that if a military action against Iraq becomes necessary a second resolution would be required. But French President Jacque Chirac has indicated that his country would veto such a resolution if enough time is not given to the inspectors.

American officials here said the next 24 to 36 hours will be critical as Powell determines whether allies are willing to support a second resolution. The key, officials said, is France; if President Jacques Chirac insists on vetoing a second resolution, President Bush won’t try to seek one.

But if Powell decides a resolution can be adopted, the next step would be to determine what it might take to get consensus in the council. One option is giving Saddam a deadline to comply, though officials said it was too soon to put that idea on the table.

A White House official said President Bush has yet to give his national security team his requirements for a second resolution, a sign that more diplomacy is needed.

Diplomats here said that although the council members have previously called for Iraq to cooperate fully, Powell’s presentation put even more pressure on Baghdad.