[Bill Hemmer, Cnn Anchor:] Will Iraq allow weapons inspectors back in or not, the question that continues again today. The secretary- general, Kofi Annan, will talk about the crisis during a news conference later today at the U.N., and Richard Roth is there already at his post to tell us what we may expect there Richard, good morning.
[Richard Roth, Cnn Senior U.n. Correspondent:] Good morning, Bill. Diplomats on the U.N. Security Council worked over the weekend with their counterparts in capitals spread around the globe on a proposed new resolution on Iraq. The United States feels that Russia and France remain the lone holdouts so far, regarding a resolution which would have tougher language to get those weapons inspectors back in. A debate will ensue, and it is likely that it will still remain focused on whether the resolution would include a trigger for the use of force. Over the weekend, President Saddam Hussein of Iraq, though, said that he wouldn't want a new resolution from the council that would reverse some of the past agreements the Iraqi leader made with Kofi Annan, the U.N. secretary-general, four years ago. Those deal with the so-called presidential palaces. Under that last agreement, the U.N. inspectors could only go into those sights if they had international diplomats as escorts. One U.S. official said today this is no surprise. President Saddam Hussein has not complied with dozens of other resolutions, why should this be any different. But the Security Council is likely to be occupied not with Iraq today, but with the Middle East. There is going to be a lot of speeches, a meeting, maybe a resolution. The Arab League pushing for Security Council help in getting Israel to lift its siege in Ramallah of Yasser Arafat. And Bill, Secretary-General Annan also has a press conference, as you mentioned, it is primarily on the issue of reforming the U.N., but reporters are definitely going to have some Iraq questions. As for the resolution timetable on Iraq, nothing today, maybe a text tomorrow Bill.
[Hemmer:] One question on Iraq, Richard. When the president of the United States said the U.S. is ready to act unilaterally against Baghdad, what kind of a reaction does he get from the folks there at the U.N.?
[Roth:] Well, nobody likes to hear that, but they also know the score. They know that he can very well do that, so right now, they would like to cobble together as good a resolution that protects them either way, which says that Saddam Hussein has to let the inspectors in, but that they told you so if they oppose the use of force, a vague enough language that anybody can take either side, no matter which way it goes.
[Hemmer:] Got it. Richard, thank you. Richard Roth at the U.N., east side of Manhattan. Thank you, Richard. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com