The U.N. Puts Iraq on Notice

By Rebecca Winters

After weeks of delicate negotiations, the United Nations Security Council unanimously approved a resolution forcing Iraq to disarm or confront "serious consequences"--most likely war. Iraq's neighbor Syria, widely expected to abstain, was the last country to come around in favor of the measure, after intense lobbying by France, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and even some moderate Arab states. Annan cautioned Syria, the council's only Arab member, that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein might exploit its nonvote in his propaganda. Now Iraq has until Nov. 15 to accept the terms of the decree; U.N. weapons inspectors must resume work in Iraq by Dec. 23 at the latest, and must report back to the council 60 days later. The diplomatic wrangling may not be through, however. Allies hope the resolution will constrain U.S. action. In a joint statement issued hours after the vote, China, France and Russia reiterated their stance that military engagement is the council's call. But Washington maintains that the resolution bolsters its right to attack Iraq if and when it wants. Check out the fine print below. --By Rebecca Winters. Reported by Massimo Calabresi/Washington and Stewart Stogel/U.N.

With reporting by Massimo Calabresi/Washington and Stewart Stogel/U.N.