RUSSIA - Oct. 11 - Putin Softens Line On Iraq After Blair Talks.

After meeting British PM Tony Blair who arrived in Moscow on Oct. 10 for a 2-day visit, Pres. Putin acknowledges for the first time the need for a fresh UN resolution to counter Iraqi Pres. Saddam's weapons of mass destruction. Putin says the world must "unquestionably ensure" UN weapons inspectors return to Iraq and deal with Saddam's weapons programme. Putin, acknowledging that there are fears in many countries about the threat of Saddam's weapons, says: "To reverse those fears and to pre-empt the future production of WMD, we will do whatever it takes together with the UK and other members of the Security Council". Blair hails Putin's move as an important breakthrough in international efforts to get a new UN resolution agreed, suggesting the document could now be finalised in "the next few days and weeks". (Until now, Moscow has insisted that there is no need for a fresh UN resolution on Iraq and that Saddam should abide by existing resolutions on WMD). Blair said on his return to London: "My view now is that we will get a fresh resolution... I think you will find that Russia is prepared for sufficiently tough language on the matter of the weapons inspection regime". But officials in Moscow say they do not accept an existing US draft, which includes an ultimate threat of military force. Instead, British officials said Putin was prepared to back a resolution that gives UN weapons inspectors considerable rights to investigate and close down Iraq's nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons programme. A senior British official said: "The question that everyone is focusing on now is what happens if Saddam breaches the resolution. That is the centre of gravity of the whole discussion on the draft of the resolution". Putin's new line means that Moscow is taking a similar approach to the French position, which calls for a resolution demanding the return of weapons inspectors, and then a second resolution in the event of failure. The White House welcomed Putin's move as a sign of progress. It follows the Oct. 11 vote in Congress, which gave US Pres. Bush freedom to act against Iraq (see Iraq).