Washington ? President Bush gained important new Democratic support for his war resolution Wednesday, bolstering his expected margin of victory in Congress for broad authority to use force against Iraq. But the administration was having less success on the international front.

A 25-minute phone call between Bush and French President Jacques Chirac failed to produce a breakthrough over wording of a new U.N. Security Council resolution to disarm Saddam Hussein.

“This is intricate diplomacy and we are continuing our consultations,” said White House spokesman Sean McCormack. He cited a “mutual desire” to find common ground.

Both the Republican-led House and the Democratic-ruled Senate forged ahead Wednesday with debate on a resolution giving Bush authority to use U.S. force against Iraq with or without U.N. help.

The White House cited a new CIA assessment suggesting Saddam might launch terrorist attacks if he concluded a U.S. military attack was inevitable as further justification for strengthening the president’s hand. Opponents used the same document to argue against a U.S. first strike.

But more Democrats closed ranks with the president and leaders of both parties predicting congressional passage by wide margins by week’s end. The House was to take up the resolution today.

Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, the Senate’s No. 2 Democrat, announced he would vote with the president, while cautioning Bush to use the power with discretion. “As president of the United States, you are the leader of the free world, not its ruler,” Reid said.

Also voicing their support were Sens. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., and John Kerry, D-Mass. Dodd said he hoped the show of unity “will reduce the likelihood that force will be necessary.” Kerry, a decorated Vietnam War veteran who had been in the go-slow camp, said Saddam’s arsenal posed “a real and grave threat” to the United States and its allies.

Despite Bush’s call for a quick U.N. resolution, the five veto-wielding members of the Security Council remained divided on whether to authorize military action if Iraq does not comply with U.N. weapons inspectors.

The United States and Britain have demanded a green light to attack Iraq in case it blocks inspectors again. France, Russia and China insist Saddam should first be given a chance to cooperate.

McCormack, the White House spokesman, said that Bush stressed in his phone call with Chirac that the stronger the U.N. resolution, “the more likely this matter can be resolved peacefully.”

In Paris, Chirac spokeswoman Catherine Colonna said the French president was open to strengthening the powers of U.N. inspectors in Iraq but still could not accept military recourse as automatic response should they be hampered.

Secretary of State Colin Powell stood fast by the administration’s position. “There must be consequences for failure to comply,” he told CNN’s Larry King. “And if those consequences include going to war, then I hope the international community will understand the importance of us doing this as an international community.”