LONDON, Aug 29 (AFP) - Britain's government Thursday upped the pressure on the United States to hold tight on launching military action against Iraq, saying it may call for a deadline by which Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein must comply with UN resolutions on weapons inspections.

Responding to a recommendation for such an ultimatum by a parliamentary foreign affairs committee, the government said:

"Existing UN resolutions require immediate Iraqi compliance, including on weapons inspections. The government will nonetheless be giving further consideration to this (committee) recommendation."

The move by Britain came as the government sought to play down suggestions of a rift with its closest ally the United States over military action.

In an interview with the Financial Times (FT), British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said he was "quite clear" that London was being listened to by Washington.

"We have close and continuing discussions with the US administration," Straw told the paper.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair is facing mounting pressure at home from doves in his cabinet, his Labour party and key trade unions not to side with the United States in any attack.

Opposition to a possible US-led strike against Iraq has mounted abroad, particularly in Europe and the Middle East, in reaction to strong remarks made on the subject on Monday by US Vice President Dick Cheney.

Cheney's remarks, in which he laid out the case for pre-emptive military action to oust Saddam, coupled with a recent series of other tough statements by senior US officials, have been widely interpreted as a sign that US President George W. Bush has made up his mind to attack Iraq.

In its response to a report on terrorism by the foreign affairs committee, the British government said Iraq would be a better place without Saddam, but stopped short of joining US calls for "regime change" in Baghdad.

The government underlined the need to deal with Iraq's alleged development of weapons of mass destruction.

"The government's policy is to secure full implementation of (UN) Security Council resolutions relating to Iraq," it said.

"It is also the government's view that Iraq would be a better place without Saddam Hussein."

Britain held back, however, from echoing calls from hardliners in Bush's administration for a military strike against Iraq leading to Saddam's overthrow.

In past statements, the British government has indicated that the threat of military action could be lifted if Saddam allows UN weapons inspectors back into Iraq with no strings attached.

Straw told the FT that the ball was "back in Saddam Hussein's court" to readmit weapons inspectors.

"It's certainly the case that the reintroduction of weapons inspectors per se would provide no assurance of itself that there would be compliance (with UN resolutions). But it's a first step on the way to ensuring compliance," Straw added.

While Straw said Britain does not rule out the possibility of taking part in military action, he told the business daily that no decisions on an attack would be taken "for some months".

He added: "The straightforward reality is we have only got to a point where there is international discussion about Saddam Hussein -- and some very grudging acknowledgement by the Iraqi regime that they have a case to answer -- as a result of the prospect of military action being held out."

Iraq has been subject to UN sanctions since it invaded Kuwait in August 1990, leading to the Gulf War the following year in which its forces were expelled from the country by a US-led coalition.

The sanctions included UN inspections aimed at ensuring that Iraq could not possess weapons of mass destruction, but in 1998 the inspectors were withdrawn ahead of US-led bombing raids on Baghdad.

bcp/pvh

Nampa-AFP WEB story ENDS (NAMPA 290315)