"We've been very clear on having a tough resolution, and we are not backing down," one official said.
Mr. Bush is urging Congress to approve a tough resolution to pressure the Security Council to back his hard-line position on Iraq.
"I'm confident that it's a very tough resolution and makes it clear that serious consequences are going to follow if Syria doesn't cooperate," Mr. Bolton said.
The five weeks of marathon diplomacy over the tough resolution that President Bush is seeking to force Iraq to disarm continued today.
Diplomats involved in the process said pushing for sanctions now could jeopardize the goal of gaining approval of a tough resolution by all 15 Security Council members.
Iraq's decision to readmit United Nations inspectors has complicated President Bush's effort to win Security Council approval for a tough resolution.
The French want a tough resolution, under Chapter Seven, in order to keep the threat of military action credible even during diplomatic negotiations.
PAGE A8 U.S. Presses Council on Iraq The United States pressed the Security Council to approve its tough resolution on Iraq, while French and Russian texts sought to moderate the military threat.
