War moves closer as hope fades for new resolution

War on Iraq came a step closer today after Tony Blair said he believes a second United Nations resolution on Iraq is "now probably less likely than at any time".

The Prime Minister's assessment of the prospects for a new resolution came as France rejected Britain's compromise draft setting Saddam Hussein six disarmament tests.

He gave the news to Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith, who said it "means essentially military action has become more likely".

The French move angered British ministers, who had been working hard to win support for the new proposals.

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw attacked the "extraordinary" decision by Paris.

Mr Blair knows that war without a new resolution means greater opposition from Labour MPs and party members.

He was meeting with his Cabinet this morning for the first time since Clare Short threatened to quit it in protest if he pushes ahead with war without a fresh UN mandate.

But Mr Blair seemed set to press ahead regardless after facing down critics in the Commons yesterday.

His bleak assessment of the chances of uniting the UN Security Council came in a 35 meeting with Mr Duncan Smith.

Speaking afterwards outside Downing Street Mr Duncan Smith said: "The Prime Minister today told me that although they continue to try to seek a second resolution in the UN and will continue to do so that second resolution is now probably less likely than at any time before.

"He made the reason for this as the fact that the French have been and become completely intransigent and literally threatened to veto almost anything that is put forward to the UN Security Council.

"That, and to a lesser extent the Russians, has meant that unaligned nations are finding it difficult to make a decision because if it is going to be vetoed anyway they are saying 'so what'.

"That means essentially military action has become more likely and with that in mind our thoughts and prayers and I'm sure those of everybody and those of my party are with our forces and their families at this time."

France signalled opposition to the British draft as Mr Duncan Smith met with the Prime Minister at Number 10.

The UK proposals "do not respond to the questions the international community is asking," Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin said in a statement.

"It's not about giving a few more days to Iraq before resorting to force but about resolutely advancing through peaceful disarmament."

Speaking outside Number 10 Jack Straw said the "extraordinary" statement made a peaceful resolution of the crisis "more difficult".

Britain would continue to seek support for its eminently reasonable tests "today and tomorrow", Mr Straw said.

"What I however find extraordinary is that without even proper consideration the French Government decided they will reject these proposals adding to the statement that whatever the circumstances France will vote no'," he said.

"When we negotiated resolution 1441 we not only placed obligations and responsibilities on Saddam Hussein but we also placed obligations and responsibilities on members of the security council as well.

"And those obligations were to see through the process of disarmament – hopefully something we continue to pray for by peaceful means.

"But if not that that would have to happen by way of what the resolution called serious consequence – which everybody knew meant, sadly, the use of force.

"What we are seeking to do is by this suggestion, these proposals of these tests, to ensure that even at this late stage there is a means by which Saddam can show reasonably that he is coming in to compliance with his obligations going back to 1991.

"And whatever the difficulties we face – and particularly the kind of statements which we are hearing from across the Channel – we will continue to work for this peaceful end.

"But I have to say, such statements rejecting the obligations on all of us, obviously make that process more difficult."

Mr Straw spoke to reporters just before the Cabinet meeting.

MS Short went into 10 Downing Street without commenting to journalists.