US Secretary of State Colin Powell said Iraq had made no real attempt to disarm but instead was trying to deceive and divide the international community. In an impassioned speech, Mr Powell said Iraq's effort must fail, because no one wanted to live in a world where the United Nations meant nothing. On Friday Mr Powell is due to attend a key meeting of the UN Security Council, where the US seems set on a collision course with France, Germany and Russia. They have said they will not allow the UN to pass a new US-sponsored resolution authorising war against Iraq. Instead they want the UN weapons inspectors in Iraq to be given more time. Friday's meeting is due to hear a progress report from chief weapons inspector Hans Blix, who on Wednesday said his teams had been able to interview seven Iraqi scientists in private.