Fed: Aust ambassador says decision on war days or weeks away

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Fed: Aust ambassador says decision on war days or weeks away

CANBERRA, Feb 16 AAP - A decision on war with Iraq was only days or weeks away, Australia'sambassador to the United Nations John Dauth said today.

"I do think that as (United States) Secretary (of State Colin) Powell said, we're talkingabout a time frame that if it's not days, is no more than weeks, we're certainly not talkingabout months," Mr Dauth told ABC television.

He said the United States or Australia would not be satisfied with a second UN SecurityCouncil resolution on Iraq which would take more than a few weeks.

"I don't think for example that there's any prospect whatsoever of the process of negotiationtaking eight or nine weeks, which is what resolution 1441 took," Mr Dauth said.

"I don't think that's a situation that would be tolerable to the United States or indeed to us."

He said he did not know what the outcome would be of talks between the US and Britainon the latest UN weapons inspectors' report, which gave an inconclusive report on Iraq'scooperation.

But he was certain the time frame on a war with Iraq would be made within days or weeks.

AAP sm/drp/ts

KEYWORD: IRAQ WAR DAUTH