British PM says Disarming Iraq Enters 'Final Phase'

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, February 04, 2003

British PM says Disarming Iraq Enters 'Final Phase'

British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Monday that the process of disarming Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has entered the "final phase" and war could only be avoided by Saddam.

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British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Monday that the process of disarming Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has entered the "final phase" and war could only be avoided by Saddam.

In a special statement to the House of Commons, Blair said Saddam still flouted obligations after being given 12 years to cooperate with the United Nations, adding that evidence of Saddam withholding cooperation from UN arms inspectors has become "unmistakable".

Blair reiterated that Saddam must take the last opportunity to disarm peacefully.

"The United Nations is the right way of dealing with Iraq and if Saddam fails to comply immediately with UN Security Council resolution 1441, then a second resolution must be adopted," he said.

In the statement, Blair also briefed the lawmakers about his talks on Iraq with US President George W. Bush at the White Houseon Friday, when Blair won approval from Bush to seek a second UN resolution that would authorizes use of force against Iraq before going to war with the country.

"President Bush and I agreed we should seek maximum support forsuch a resolution," Blair said, "provided that seeking such a resolution is a way of resolving the issue not delaying or avoiding dealing with it at all."

During a joint press conference with Blair on Friday, Bush madeit very clear he expected the United Nations to act within a matter of weeks and that if anyone tried to drag out the process, the United States would go it alone.

Blair, who decisively supports the US tough line on Iraq, said Saturday he was confident that divided world opinion could be rallied behind a second United Nations resolution authorizing military action against Iraq.

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