Paris and Washington have moved closer to agreement on a new UN resolution demanding Iraq surrender to weapons inspections.

The US has dropped its demand for automatic UN authorisation of military action in the event of Baghdad's non-compliance in favour of strong language spelling out the consequences of Iraq's defiance.

UK, US and French UN ambassadors met over the weekend to overcome divisions on the "trigger mechanism" for war. The development makes UN security council agreement closer, Paris had previously been described as in "veto territory".

UK foreign secretary, Jack Straw continues his coalition building tour of the Middle East. Egypt yesterday warned that the west should not "rewrite the rules" against Iraq.