HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: The drama playing out in the showdown with Iraq is nearing its final act. The Bush administration says it is closing in on the votes needed to pass a new U.N. resolution, and a vote could come this week. CNN's senior U.N. correspondent Richard Roth joins us with the latest. Hi, Richard.</s>RICHARD ROTH, CNN SR. U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Heidi. Diplomats here are awaiting the British proposals unveiled in London today by the British prime minister and his administration. The benchmarks he referred to, various disarmament tasks Iraq must comply with or else. It is still unclear if the deadline of March 17th under the existing proposed resolution would be extended. There's not much time to even issue these edicts to Iraq and have them comply by the 17th. Here's Angola's ambassador this morning. He was asked reports on CNN that Angola is supporting the second resolution. He said, "Supporting what?" And then smiled. Germany is flanked by Mexico here. Germany expected to either abstain or vote no. Mexico sought after by now the U.S. and France. We asked this morning Iraq's U.N. ambassador about the British proposal on the benchmarks. And Iraqi ambassador Mohammed Aldouri said they are trying to find a way out. They put themselves in a box; it is not easy to get out -- smiling -- the U.N. said it doesn't need this second resolution, and they're doing it to try to help out ally Tony Blair of Britain -- Heidi.</s>COLLINS: Senior U.N. correspondent Richard Roth live from the U.N. today. Thank you.
Drama Playing Out in Showdown with Iraq Nearing Final Act