A divided U.N. Security Council Thursday holds informal talks on a resolution authorizing force against Iraq, with veto-wielding China and Russia saying weapons inspectors should be given more time. President Bush, pushing the case for war, said in a nationally televised speech the departure of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein would help spread hope and democracy across the Middle East.

But while Security Council member Mexico's anti-war stance showed signs of flagging under sustained pressure from the United States, China and Russia repeated that "political and diplomatic means" should be used to solve the crisis.

"Both sides reiterate their determination to render their full efforts for promoting a political solution to the Iraqi issue," their foreign ministers said in a joint communique quoted by China's Xinhua news agency after they met in Beijing.

The new resolution, sponsored by Britain, the United States and Spain, lays the groundwork for war by declaring Iraq has failed to meet U.N. disarmament demands spelt out in Resolution 1441, which the council passed unanimously in November 8.

Bush said the United States would take the lead in destroying Iraq's suspected chemical and biological weapons, and provide security "against those who try to spread chaos or settle scores, or threaten the territorial integrity of Iraq."

Hours earlier, chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix said Iraq had still not made a "fundamental decision" to disarm, despite signs of increased cooperation.

Blix is due to report again to the U.N. Security Council on March 7 on progress in tracking down weapons of mass destruction, which Iraq says it does not possess.

Diplomats at the United Nations said they expected Iraq to begin destroying its al-Samoud 2 missiles by Saturday as Blix has ordered, a demand supported by all 15 Security Council members.

So far, only four of the nine votes needed for the new resolution to pass in the Security Council are assured, with Bulgaria supporting the United States, Britain and Spain. Russia, France or China could veto even a majority decision.

Thursday's Security Council talks will take place behind closed doors. No vote is expected until the second week of March, suggesting no invasion will take place before then.

The United States and Britain have massed about 200,000 troops in the region.

KEY DEBATE IN TURKEY

Turkey's parliament holds a debate that will force Ankara to decide whether to keep out of a war with Iraq that most Turks oppose, or -- more likely -- win cash and clout for helping the United States.

France, Germany and Russia have led opposition to any rush to war, arguing for Blix's inspectors to be given more time. Public opinion in many countries is strongly against war.

President Jacques Chirac won broad support in France's National Assembly to resist war, while British Prime Minister Tony Blair's hawkish Iraq stance triggered the biggest revolt yet from his Labor Party in parliament Wednesday.

In a debate in the House of Commons, 122 Labor Party members of parliament backed an amendment declaring the case for war was unproven. Blair won the vote 393-199 thanks to his large parliamentary majority and the support of most opposition Conservatives.

Bush, addressing the American Enterprise Institute, a Washington think tank, urged the Security Council to stand firm against Iraq. "If the council responds to Iraq's defiance with more excuses and delays, if all its authority proves to be empty, the U.N. will be severely weakened as a source of stability and order," he said.

Bush said the United States would act quickly in any war to protect Iraq's oil facilities from sabotage. "We will remain in Iraq as long as necessary, and not a day more," he said.

"A liberated Iraq can show the power of freedom to transform that vital region, by bringing hope and progress into the lives of millions," he added.

His speech was partly aimed at answering Arab states and European allies who oppose the prospect of war, fearing it could further destabilize the volatile Middle East.

Leaders of the Arab League's 22 members hold a summit at the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh Saturday.

League Secretary-General Amr Moussa said there was a range of opinions within the group, but a general consensus against war.

Answering reporters' questions at U.N. headquarters in New York, Blix said full cooperation on the Iraqi side or a disarmament breakthrough were still lacking. "I do not think I can say there is evidence of a fundamental decision (to disarm), but there is some evidence of some increased activity."

France and Germany have distributed proposals to intensify inspections and continue them for at least four more months.
These proposals are backed by China and Syria.

In the latest anti-war protest, hundreds of thousands of people called and faxed U.S. leaders in a "virtual march on Washington" Wednesday, jamming the White House switchboard and many congressional telephone lines for several hours.

PHOTO CAPTION

An Iraqi boy holds a candle during an anti-U.S protest in Baghdad February 26, 2003. Pentagon  planners believe the cost of a possible war with Iraq could balloon to 95 billion dlrs or even higher, eclipsing earlier estimates, administration and congressional sources said. (Goran Tomasevic/Reuter