All eyes will focus on New York today as Hans Blix returns to the United Nations to deliver his latest update on Iraqi compliance with his weapons inspections.

Blix is expected to say that Saddam Hussein is still not in full compliance with his UN obligations. But he is likely to point to the recent destruction of Al-Samoud II Missiles as evidence of progress.

Jack Straw will attend this afternoon's session, where he is expected to press the Security Council to support a second resolution backing force if necessary.

Speaking last night, the foreign secretary signalled that the UK will offer Saddam a final opportunity to disarm - although he stressed that this means days not weeks.

British and American officials spent last night engaged in a frantic round of diplomacy over the content of a revised resolution.

It is understood that the new draft will give Saddam until late March to prove he has no weapons of mass destruction.

Tony Blair is said to hope that the concession will bring doubting nations on board.

The prime minister's critics have warned that his premiership will be called into question if he commits troops to a war without the backing of the UN.

In an interview to be broadcast on MTV today, Blair signals that Saddam may be given one last chance.

But France, Germany, Russia and China appear to be standing firm in their opposition to a second resolution which sanctions force against Iraq.

Whilst the US believes it can call their bluff, the prime minister says he will countenance giving Saddam more time.

But he warns that inaction is not an option. "We can't keep people down there forever. We can't wait forever," Blair told the MTV audience.

The prime minister said the threat of force remained essential to compel Saddam to disarm - and he did not rule out defying a Security Council veto on military action.

"I think it is right that the UN now moves to a further stage and makes it clear that if he is not prepared to disarm peacefully then he will have to be disarmed by force," said Blair.

"If Saddam co-operates fully then the inspectors should be there for as long as they want. Is war the only or the right way to do it? And my answer to that is, it isn't the first resort. The first resort is to do it peacefully, voluntarily."

The Foreign Office last night signalled that Britain would compromise to win support from six "swing" members of the UN.

"There is a negotiation going on. We have always been clear that we have been open to discussing the wording of the resolution we tabled," said a spokesman.

British sources say securing the support of Guinea, Cameroon, Angola, Mexico, Chile and Pakistan could result in Russia and France ditching plans to use their veto.

But a Washington official said the US would not back any moves to water down the resolution. "We may add or subtract to the resolution but we will not do anything that detracts from the substance of the resolution," said the spokesman last night.