Top-level anti-war diplomacy on Iraq moves to Paris on Monday with the start of a three-day state visit by Russia's President Vladimir Putin, while NATO holds a crunch meeting in Brussels. Meetings between Putin and French President Jacques Chirac are certain to be dominated by discussions on how to persuade the United States not to attack Baghdad.

Figuring high in the talks will be a proposal spelled out by Germany to enhance U.N. inspections of Iraqi sites resumed late last year, viewed with deep suspicion by Washington.

Putin and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said after a meeting in Berlin on Sunday they hoped Iraq could be disarmed of its weapons of mass destruction peacefully. This was also broadly the attitude of France and China, Putin said.

Russia, France and China are veto-wielding members of the U.N. Security Council, along with the United States and Britain.

The wrangling over Iraq has also landed NATO in deadlock, with France -- angered by U.S. pressure -- looking set to veto planning for the protection of alliance-member Turkey in the event of war with its neighbor Iraq.

Each of the 19 NATO allies has until 4 a.m. EST on Monday to raise objections, with France looking set to stall protection planning, probably with Belgium's backing.

Washington has bitterly condemned the deadlock.

"I hope they will think differently by the time that they have to make a judgment tomorrow," Secretary of State Colin Powell said.

"This is the time for NATO to rally and to stand behind one of our NATO colleagues that may be put at risk, not by the United States but by Iraq."

BUSH DEMANDS QUICK ACTION

With top U.N. weapons inspectors due to deliver an assessment of their work in Iraq to the Security Council next Friday, President Bush said on Sunday the world body must move fast or be deemed irrelevant.

"We will disarm (Iraq's) President Saddam Hussein if he will not disarm himself," Bush said, counting on the backing of close ally Britain and much of Eastern Europe.

Washington also rejected a last-ditch European peace plan, spelled out by Germany on Saturday, to send U.N. troops to Iraq and to greatly enlarge the team of some 100 inspectors who have been in the country for the past two months.

PHOTO CAPTION

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder answer journalists' questions following their talks in Berlin, February 9, 2003. Schroeder and Putin said on Sunday they hoped Iraq could be disarmed peacefully, with Putin saying France, Germany, Russia and China were in broad agreement on Iraq. Photo by Alexandra Winkler/Reuters
- Feb 09 2:53