He told French radio although the latest draft ignored a French request to give Iraq a veto over US military operations, that would not prevent Paris from backing the resolution.

Barnier said he expected the Security Council to vote on the matter later Tuesday or Wednesday. He hailed the fact that "for the first time" in this matter there had been a "real dialogue" between France and the United States, which have been working at patching up their differences over Iraq in recent months. Amid weeks of haggling, Monday's version of the resolution was the fourth presented by the United States and Britain.

AFP