The Cabinet has been angered by France's pledge to veto a compromise security council resolution on Iraq, according to Number 10.

Tony Blair told the cabinet on Thursday that the move was a "complicating factor" and questioned why France had signed up to United Nations resolution 1441 in the first place.

"What does 'serious consequences' actually mean? It does not mean more weapons inspectors," said the official spokesman, who also described France's position as "illogical".

The prime minister's official spokesman said that the position adopted by Paris had presented a "major problem" to attempts to secure further United Nations backing for any military action.

There was determination to see through the security council negotiations to their final conclusions.

"At some point this is going to have to conclude. We're not there yet."

"Don't underestimate the energy and determination of Jeremy Greenstock, Jack Straw, the prime minister and all sorts of other people who believe in this," said Number 10.

Ahead of Thursday's Cabinet meeting, foreign secretary Jack Straw said it was "extraordinary" that France would reject any deal.

"When we negotiated resolution 1441 we also placed obligations and resolutions on members of the security council," he said outside Number 10.

"Such states rejecting those obligations make that process more difficult."

Tony Blair told the Cabinet that the UN route was still open, but ministers have appeared increasingly pessimistic of getting a second resolution passed.

Number 10 sought to lay the blame squarely at the door of the French government, with senior ministers lining up to criticise president Jacque Chirac.

"It is fair to say that the view was pretty widespread around the Cabinet table that France's decision had presented a major problem," said the official spokesman.

However at the "serious, determined and very good natured" meeting, there was no discussion of Clare Short's interview last Sunday.

But there were hints of ministerial unease at the choices now open to the government.

"A number of Cabinet ministers made perfectly valid points about what is a very complicated issue in front of the government," said Downing Street.

The discussions came as Britain appeared set to abandon its attempts to get a second resolution.

Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith emerged from Downing Street on Thursday morning to tell journalists that the prime minister had accepted there was little chance in gaining UN support for his compromise deal.

"Military action has become more likely," warned Duncan Smith.

"A second resolution, whilst important, was not absolutely vital because 1441 authorises military action for the UN if the resolution is flouted. Hans Blix made it clear he remains non-compliant with their requirements so it's really a matter of time."

During a 45-minute emergency meeting the prime minister told Duncan Smith that non-aligned countries had signalled they were now unlikely "to put their head above the parapet".

Blair told Duncan Smith that the veto was "causing a problem".

"If it is unlikely that they cannot get a second resolution, I don't believe that it will go to a vote on that basis," said Duncan Smith.

"There would be little point in going to a vote only to find it was vetoed at the last minute. That was the impression I gained."