Security Council schedules evening consultations on Iraq

The Security Council this evening scheduled closed-door consultations aimed at reaching agreement among the body’s 15 members on proposals to return United Nations weapons inspectors to Iraq.

The talks, which are to resume tonight, are centred on a proposed draft resolution circulated by the United States and United Kingdom.

Also today, Council members concluded an open debate on women, peace and security which began yesterday and saw the participation of some three dozen speakers. Numerous representatives took the opportunity to call for attention to women’s concerns in the formulation of mandates for UN peacekeeping operations. There were also widespread calls for increasing the participation of women in all decisions regarding peacemaking, peacekeeping and post-conflict initiatives.