CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: In the showdown with Iraq, this is what President Bush has been waiting for. We could see a vote tomorrow before the U.N. Security Council on a new resolution dealing with Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction. The U.S. and British resolution calls for an immediate Security Council meeting if Iraq refuses to comply with weapons inspectors. It calls for serious consequences for violations and maintains that the U.S. would not need U.N. approval for military action. Council members had been discussing the resolution. France and Russia have opposed a military assault on Iraq if Baghdad obstructs weapons inspectors. Iraq is actually signaling that it just might accept the new U.S. draft resolution. Our Baghdad bureau chief, Jane Arraf, joins us with details now. And does it matter if Iraq accepts it or not, Jane.</s>JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF: It does actually, Carol, because if Iraq doesn't accept it, it will be in for those serious consequences much earlier than it otherwise would be before problems with the weapons inspectors. Now, Iraq has for weeks been saying, from top levels on down, that any new resolution is unacceptable, that it's not needed</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We hope they will solve our problem of -- economical problem, the blockade, which lasts for over than 12 years. And we not hope</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): God willing, nothing will happen and things will go smoothly. They will come and find nothing, and they will leave disappointed.</s>ARRAF: Now, in the best case, letting the weapons inspectors back in could lead to a lifting of sanctions. In the worst case, as some here expect, it would just delay military action -- Carol.</s>COSTELLO: All right, Jane Arraf reporting live from Baghdad this morning. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
U.N. Resolution Vote May Come Tomorrow