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A Deep Divide in the U.N.

Last week brought sharp disagreements between the U.S. and other nations over going to war against Iraq. At a key United Nations meeting on March 7, chief weapons inspectors said Iraq is cooperating. Its destruction of long-range missiles showed "substantial" progress, Chief Inspector Hans Blix told the U.N. Security Council.

U.S. leaders welcomed the progress but said it was not enough. Secretary of State Colin Powell called Blix's report on Iraq "a catalog of noncooperation."

The U.S. and Great Britain have been trying to gather votes in the Security Council for a measure supporting the use of force to disarm Iraq. They want a March 17 deadline for Iraq to disarm or face an attack. A vote could be held this week.

To pass, a U.N. resolution needs nine votes from the council's 15 member nations. All five permanent members must vote yes. Those members are China, France, Russia, Great Britain and the U.S. France, Russia and China are against using force in Iraq. As permanent members, those nations have the power to veto, or block, a war resolution.

At a news conference, President Bush insisted that it was up to Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein to avoid war by ridding his country of illegal weapons. "He's the person that can make the choice of war or peace," said Bush.

About 250,000 U.S. and British troops are already positioned around Iraq. President Bush said the U.S. will not let U.N. opposition interfere with decision-making about an attack: "We don't need anybody's permission."

TIME FOR KIDS ONLINE Get the latest news on the Iraq conflict at timeforkids.com/iraq: --Read about the key players in the ongoing conflict. --Learn about the role Iraq's neighbors would play in a possible war. --Get answers to your questions and stay on top of breaking stories.

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