Frace and Russia at UN turn against Baghdad "Both countries seem nervous about the economic consequences if the US and Britain go it alone and then do a deal on oil with a new regime. The French President, Jacques Chirac, is coming under increasing pressure from business and military leaders and the army, navy and air force have been told to review their capabilities.

"On the Russian side, a marked hardening of attitudes by Moscow in the past two weeks is believed to have contributed to an Iraqi decision to cancel a $US3.7 billion ($6.5 billion) drilling contract with the Moscow company Lukoil."

Frace and Russia at UN turn against Baghdad "Both countries seem nervous about the economic consequences if the US and Britain go it alone and then do a deal on oil with a new regime. The French President, Jacques Chirac, is coming under increasing pressure from business and military leaders and the army, navy and air force have been told to review their capabilities.

"On the Russian side, a marked hardening of attitudes by Moscow in the past two weeks is believed to have contributed to an Iraqi decision to cancel a $US3.7 billion ($6.5 billion) drilling contract with the Moscow company Lukoil."