ISLAMABAD, March 12: United Nations Security Council members Mexico and Pakistan decided on Wednesday to seek a compromise in the divisive debate on invading Iraq to save a split on the council, Pakistan announced.

Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Ernesto Derbez telephoned his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri to discuss the Iraqi crisis, Islamabad’s foreign ministry said.

“The two foreign ministers agreed to try and work out a compromise to prevent a division of the international community and the Security Council on the issue,” a statement from the ministry said.

Mr Kasuri “emphasised the importance of the peaceful resolution of the Iraqi crisis” in accordance with council resolutions.

Pakistan and Mexico are two of six states on the council who have not formally committed to backing or rejecting a vote on a US-British-Spanish draft resolution imposing a March 17 deadline for Iraq to disarm or face war.

Mexican President Vicente Fox was considering a compromise proposal, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said after talking with Mr Fox by phone on Tuesday.

Pakistan and Mexico are among 10 non-permanent members on the council.—AFP