MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Amid a bitterly divided U.N.

Security Council, Chile and Mexico joined Thursday in calling on the body's five permanent members to look for ways to surmount their differences on Iraq.

"The permanent members, who have veto power, must make an effort to bring their viewpoints closer together, as the debate can't go on forever," Chilean Ambassador to the U.N. Gabriel Valdes said after Thursday's Security Council meeting.

This was the first time the Security Council had discussed the new resolution submitted by the United States, Britain and Spain, which declares Iraq to be in "flagrant violation" of U.N. resolutions and adds that it has lost its last chance to disarm.

Meanwhile, France, Germany and Russia presented a memorandum asking for more inspections and a working agenda with a timetable for U.N. inspectors.

In their attempt to bridge the differences between the two camps, Chile and Mexico expressed support for the Canadian proposal, which has not been officially presented yet, but which met with a frigid reception not only from Washington and London, but also from Paris and Berlin.

Canada has proposed weapons inspectors outline the essential points of the pending disarmament, as requested by France, and extend the inspections within a limited time frame.

If the chief weapons inspectors determine that Iraq has not met its obligations by March 28, the Canadian proposal says, then "all means necessary" should be used to ensure the country's disarmament, a stance closer to the U.S. position.

The Chilean ambassador supported Canada's proposal as an alternative solution to the Iraqi crisis.

"Chile received the Canadian proposal with interest," said Valdes.

Mexican Ambassador to the U.N. Aguilar Zinzer stressed the need to explore every possibility to find a peaceful solution to the crisis.

"The Council is a multilateral forum and we must remain united, which is why our government is exploring every option," Zinzer said.

Diplomatic officials said the atmosphere at the Security Council meeting, which was held behind closed doors, was one of deep discord, and that the members were unable to agree even on a timetable for inspectors to officially present a new report.