With differences widening and time running out, day-long bilateral meetings and closed-door discussions among United Nations Security Council members failed to produce any compromise over Iraq even as the US hinted at withdrawing its resolution seeking authorisation of war.
Several senior diplomats, who have been actively participating in the discussions, said after the meetings on Thursday that chances of a
compromise were little and that it would be futile for the United States, Britain and Spain to press vote on their second resolution as they just do not have nine votes needed for adoption of any measure by the Council.
At the UN, the US signaled to push back the date of ultimatum to Iraq - March 17 - by a few days which, analysts say, could mean military action towards the end of next week at the earliest.
