Syria and Germany, both non-permanent members, remain opposed to a second resolution.Diplomats have been using a mixture of carrot and stick to get the votes they need. Over the weekend President George Bush telephoned Mexico’s President, Vicente Fox, and Chile’s President, Ricardo Lagos. He has previously spoken directly to the Pakistani leader, General Pervez Musharraf. At the same time, Tony Blair telephoned Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, and other council members have received telephone calls or visits from senior American officials.The package to Turkey, in exchange for the right to deploy US troops, will include $5bn in aid and $10bn in loans to cushion the Turkish economy from the impact of any war.

But America is keen to avoid having to offer such obvious inducements to other countries, conscious that the so-called coalition of the willing could quickly become the coalition of the bought.”We think the case is strong on its merits,” one senior administration official said. “We’re looking to our friends to work with us to confront a common danger … So the question doesn’t arise in those terms.”How votes are being marshalled in the Security CouncilYES (IN FAVOUR OF SECOND RESOLUTION)UK (veto-holding); US (veto); Spain; BulgariaNO (AGAINST SECOND RESOLUTION)France (veto); Germany; Russia (veto) Tony Blair calls President Vladimir Putin on Sunday; Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar calls Mr Putin yesterdaySyria Mr Powell phones the Foreign Minister, Farouq al-SharaUNDECIDEDChina (veto) Mr Powell visitGuinea Senior US official visitMexico President Bush phones and Mr Aznar visits President Vicente Fox. Visit by two US officialsPakistan Mr Bush telephone callAngola Senior US official visitCameroon Senior US official visitChile Mr Bush telephones President Ricardo Lagos.

Culture inthe United States is in acute crisis as state governments across the country ponder eliminating funding for the arts entirely to help to bridge some of the worst budget deficits in decades. The first state to take such drastic action is likely to be Arizona.The extraordinary measures threaten to strangle cultural institutions both large and small and deny access for residents of those states and tourists to any kind of serious artistic endeavour. Any hope for survival will rest on private donations.Politicians in Arizona will soon begin debating proposals to shut its state arts agency for a saving of about $5.1m (£3.2m). They also recommend that a state endowment of $7m for arts programmes in the state be scrapped.Similar measures are being considered in New Jersey and Missouri – at a time when state governors are enacting a variety of extreme budget cuts to repel the tide of red ink. Kentucky recently began releasing prisoners early to save money.Arts in the United States have never enjoyed the kind of government support seen in most European countries.

The prospect of state governments abandoning their responsibilities towards culture altogether is something new, however.Making matters worse, private donations to the arts are also drying up as the squeeze on the economy tightens.. The prospect of a revival of the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians looked bleak yesterday as it became clear the country was heading for a right-wing coalition under Ariel Sharon. The government will include a party opposed to any form of Palestinian state in the occupied territories. Instead Likud will now have as a coalition partner the NRP, a party which lobbies for the interests of ideological Jewish settlers who live in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.