The United Nations Security Council is working to send a “strong and unanimous” message to Baghdad regarding the return of UN weapons inspectors to Iraq following a nearly four-year absence, the President of the 15-member body said today.

Speaking to the press after closed-door consultations on a draft resolution presented by the United States and the United Kingdom, Ambassador Martin Belinga-Eboutou of Cameroon said the members had proposed “wording that will lead us to a consensual text".

“The Council remains determined to achieve the disarmament of Iraq,” he stressed. “And for that, the Council wishes the prompt return of the inspectors".

He added that the Council “wishes to give a mandate which is clear and precise to the inspectors".

Asked about the lifting of sanctions against Iraq, Ambassador Belinga-Eboutou said the issue had been thoroughly discussed, with some suggesting that the draft resolution incorporate “positive aspects of reconsidering the sanctions in the case of full cooperation given by Iraq".