But now, Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has written to the Secretary of State, Colin Powell, agreeing that Washington should send adiplomaticnote to Iraq through the ICRC to try to confirm whether Baghdad is ready to provide any new information.
Western officials say they don't know what message Mr. Lavrov will relay to Mr. Assad, but note that Russia's veto has handed it adiplomatic beating in recent days that could cost it lucrative business contracts in Qatar and other Gulf countries.