United Nations - Foreign ministers held urgent talks by telephone yesterday to avert a Russian veto in the UN Security Council of proposals for a new Iraqi sanctions regime, diplomats said.
"They're not bluffing," a senior western diplomat said in reference to Russia, one of five countries which have permanent seats on the council and the power to veto its decisions.
The British ambassador, Mr Jeremey Greenstock, said "ongoing and quite intense negotiations" were taking place between capitals on a resolution aimed at getting UN arms inspectors back into Iraq.