Europe Divided Over US Rejection of Inspection Deal

The United States' rejection of an agreement between Iraq and the United Nations on arms inspections has forced European leaders to yet again consider their position regarding the return of weapons inspectors to Iraq.

Britain, the only current European voice in favour of the Bush administration's hard line on Iraq, once again reiterated its support of the U.S. stance by also rejecting the latest deal.

Latest deal rejected for not going far enough

After two days of talks in Vienna, Iraq accepted all inspection rights under existing UN resolutions on Tuesday. Chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix said the inspectors would have unconditional access - but crucially not to eight presidential palaces.

Both the United States and Britain have said that the concessions do not go far enough. Experts believe that the presidential palaces double for weapons sites. As a result, the Anglo-American alliance vows to block the inspectors' return unless the security council agrees to back them with the threat of military force.

Instead, Washington is pushing for a tough new Security Council resolution that would specifically mention the threat of military intervention should the inspectors be unable to complete their work.

Bush does not want inspectors to return until this is passed.

Council members from Europe have opposing views

The US' stance sparked divided opinions in Europe. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council with the power of veto, France stands alongside Britain on the frontline of European representation on the subject of Iraq.

However, while Britain and the U.S. continue to speak the same language, the French efforts to find a solution have come up against opposition from Washington.

Initially, the French government refused to accept the joint U.S.-British draft resolution which allows for a military strike against Saddam Hussein should he fail to comply with UN demands regarding weapons inspections.

Instead, the French suggested a two-stage process which included one resolution on dispatching the inspectors and a further resolution on the use of force if the inspectors are prevented from carrying out their work.

The United States has dismissed the 'softer' two-step approach preferred by Paris saying it would not send a clear message to Baghdad. On Monday, French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin responded by saying in Le Monde that Paris did not want to "give anyone free rein to launch military action" in Iraq.

EU supports all 'legal' actions and return of inspectors

While France maintains its commitment to UN resolutions and Britain continues to back up the United States, the European Union treads carefully in the middle ground. "The European Commission will continue to support the decision of the Security Council to let weapons inspectors into Iraq, " a Commission spokesperson told DW-WORLD.

"Although the Commission is not seeking any particular role, it will support all legal decisions regarding the situation in Iraq."

Legally the U.S. and Britain cannot prevent the return of UN weapons inspectors to Iraq. However, it would make little sense if the inspectors carried out their mission without the full support of the Security Council.

Full support of weapons inspectors' return

Meanwhile, in Germany, a country attempting to come in from the cold after weeks of incurring Washington's displeasure, support continues for the return of weapons inspectors in accordance with UN resolutions.

The dispute arose after Schröder, in the course of campaigning for re-election, said he would not support an attack.

So far the German government has kept a low profile on the U.S. opposition to the recent agreement on weapons inspectors, saying it will wait for consultations within the United Nations to end. In this "cacophony" a spokesman at the Foreign Ministry said, was not appropiate.