US President George W Bush said this afternoon that he hoped the UN Security Council would pass a new Iraq resolution seen as paving the way for war but said the measure was not required for US action.
"As I've said all along, it would be helpful and useful. But I don't believe we need a second resolution. Saddam Hussein hasn't disarmed," Bush told reporters after a meeting with his national economic council.
He also warned Iraqi leaders that "if they take innocent life, if they destroy infrastructure, they will be held to account as war criminals."
Asked what would avert US-led military action to strip Baghdad of any weapons of mass destruction, Bush replied: "There's only one thing, that's full disarmament."
"War is my last choice. That's why I've said all along I would hope that the world would come together to convince Saddam to make the decision to disarm," said the president.
"I suspect we'll see him playing games," said Bush. "The world will say disarm, and he will all of a sudden find a weapon that he claimed he didn't have." "He has had a history of doing that for 12 years. He's been successful at gaming the system. And our attitude is it's now time for him to fully disarm. And we expect the Security Council to honor its word by insisting that Saddam disarm. Now is the time."
President Bush's aides say he is leading an all-out diplomatic push to get the nine votes ensuring passage in the council provided none of the permanent members - France, China, Russia, the United States and Britain - vetos the measure.
Paris, Beijing and Moscow have opposed a second resolution, favoring instead a plan to give the inspectors more time to hunt for any chemical, biological or nuclear arms and dismantle banned missile systems.
"Obviously, we'd like to have a positive vote. That's why we've submitted a Security Council resolution, along with Great Britain and Spain," said President Bush.
AFP