Iraq's ruling Baath Party newspaper on Friday accused certain states of not being "brave" enough to threaten to veto a U.S.-drafted new U.N. resolution demanding Baghdad to disarm or face military strikesAl-Thawra did not name these states but it was clearly referring to Russia, China and France, all veto-wielding permanent U.N. Security Council members.

"Some governments would commit a grave mistake if they do not take the brave and suitable decision at the suitable moment," Thawra said in reference to the veto power that these states enjoy at the Security Council.

"We know that these states have their own interests, but short-sighted consideration would threaten their strategic and vital goals," it said in a front-page editorial.

Washington and London are insisting on a tough new U.N. resolution setting out wide powers for U.N. weapons inspectors before they return back to Iraq. It would allow U.N. members, such as the United States, to decide when to carry out any military action should Baghdad not comply. Russia, China and France oppose this.

"Other (U.N.) Security Council member states should stand against the attempt to issue a new resolution and they should not bow to (U.S. and British) pressure," the paper said.

Iraq has said it accepts the unconditional return of the inspectors whose task is to verify the dismantling of banned chemical, biological, nuclear and long-range missile programmes. Iraq has repeatedly said all such programmes have been scrapped.

The inspectors had wanted to send advance teams to Baghdad on October 19. But after briefing the 15-nation Security Council on Thursday they made clear they would hold off if the council did not adopt a resolution before then as Washington and London want.

"There is no need to issue a new U.N. resolution after Iraq has agreed to the return of the (U.N. weapons) inspectors," the paper said.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Saltanov said on Thursday that mention of automatic use of force in the draft was unacceptable.

United Nations inspection teams left Iraq in December 1998 on the eve of a U.S.-British bombing campaign intended to punish Baghdad for not cooperating with the inspectors in their hunt for weapons of mass destruction.


PHOTO CAPTION

French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin addresses the U.N. general assembly in this September 12 file photo from New York. Iraq's de facto state paper Al-Thawra said on October 4 that countries like France should defy the U.S.'s call for war. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine