Two week deadline to avert war

Saddam Hussein has been given two weeks to disarm in what Downing Street called his "last chance" to avert war.

Britain and the United States are putting a new draft resolution that could trigger military action before the United Nations this evening.

The UN Security Council will vote on the draft, also backed by Spain, in around a fortnight, said Foreign Secretary Jack Straw.

France, Germany and Russia, who oppose military action, proposed increased inspections, a move repeatedly rejected by the US and UK.

But Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon warned that if Saddam does not comply, allied troops are ready for war whether the resolution is passed or not.

Tony Blair's official spokesman stressed the Iraqi dictator should be under no illusions that this was his final opportunity.

Saddam should not continue to misread the mood of the West, the spokesman warned.

"What we have done is deliberately create a window in which Saddam will get the message loud and clear this is his last chance," he said.

US President George Bush said the draft "spells out what the world has witnessed in the last months. The Iraq regime has not disarmed. "The Iraqi regime is not disarming as required by last fall's unanimous vote of the Security Council."

With many members of the Security Council currently opposed to military action, Mr Bush warned failure to adopt the resolution would make the UN irrelevant.

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