HIGHLIGHTS: Powell to 'Get Tough' with France||Nation after Nation Warn Washington at Debate against Military Action Before UN Weapons Inspectors Report to Council||Bush Signs Congressional Decision into Law||No Vote Expected Before Next Week||Saddam's Top Deputy Leaves Door Open for Baghdad's Compliance with New UN Resolution|| STORY: The United States showed signs of growing impatience in seeking U.N. backing for action against Iraq, and Saddam Hussein said U.S. war threats helped him win 100 percent backing in a referendum for another seven years as Iraqi president. Diplomats said the Bush administration, facing opposition from most countries in the world to its demand for a tough U.N. Security Council resolution on disarming Iraq, has softened some language in its original draft but still seeks authorization to use force.

Secretary of State Colin Powell discussed the resolution in Washington on Wednesday with visiting French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie, whose country has been leading resistance to the draft resolution that would give Washington the right to attack Iraq for the slightest failure to meet U.N. requirements.

A State Department official said Powell intended to "get tough" with France, one of the five permanent members of the Security Council with veto power.

At the United Nations, nation after nation lined up before the Security Council to warn Washington against military action before U.N. inspectors had a chance to determine if Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.

In Baghdad, Saddam was quoted as saying the results of Tuesday's presidential referendum that the vote showed the world that the Iraqi leadership and people were one.

Official results showed 100 percent of 11.5 million voters said "Yes" to another term in office for Saddam, who came to power in 1979.

"Yes, the (U.S.) challenge played a role," the Iraqi News Agency quoted Saddam as telling the ruling Revolutionary Command Council at a meeting on Wednesday night.

U.S. officials have repeatedly reserved the right to attack Iraq, with or without allies, if President Bush decides the Iraqi government is a threat to U.S. national security.

Bush said on Wednesday the only way Iraq could avoid war was to completely surrender its suspected weapons of mass destruction, as he signed a congressional resolution granting him power to use military force if Baghdad refuses to disarm.

WORKING FOR CONSENSUS

Bush noted the divisions in the Security Council and said the United States had to "work hard to reach a consensus."

France, with strong support among Security Council members including Russia, does not want the council to authorize an attack unless arms inspectors report back that Iraq has not complied with U.N. demands.

In a concession to France, the new U.S. draft will give more credence to reports from U.N. arms inspectors searching for weapons of mass destruction. But the United States still insists on one resolution and hopes its new language is vague enough for most countries to support, the diplomats said.

The Bush administration also has shown willingness to drop provisions in its draft that would allow key council members to join U.N. inspections and have troops open any routes that may be barred to the arms experts.

U.S. officials intend to circulate their revised proposals among the other four permanent council members -- Britain, France, Russia and China -- on Thursday or on Friday, then show it to other ambassadors in the 15-nation body, the diplomats said. No vote is expected until next week at the earliest.

In Baghdad, Saddam's top deputy appeared to leave the door open for cooperation with any new U.N. resolution on weapons inspections.

"If the Security Council issues a resolution that contradicts what we had agreed upon (previously) ... we will take a position regarding it then," said Izzat Ibrahim, deputy chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council, said. Iraqi officials had previously rejected any new resolution.

PHOTO CAPTION

President Bush, left, Secretary of State Colin Powell, left center, Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss.,right center, and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, right, smile as they chat before Bush signed a resolution authorizing the use of force against Iraq, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2002, in the East Room of the White House.. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)