Call for more time reduces pressure on Saddam: Rice

US Presidemt George W. Bush’s National Security Adviser, Condoleeza Rice, said on Sunday that calls for more time for UN inspectors to hunt for illegal Iraqi weapons relieves pressure on President Saddam Hussein to disarm.

Rice said the US was working on winning support for a new resolution on Iraq at the UN Security Council, where Washington has faced increased resistance over the last week.

‘‘Continuing to talk about more time and more time is basically going to relieve pressure on the Iraqis to do what they must do,’’ Rice said in answer to a question about French support for an additional report from inspectors to the Council next month.