US Forces to Enter Iraq Even if Saddam Leaves: Official

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, March 19, 2003

US Forces to Enter Iraq Even if Saddam Leaves: Official

US forces will enter Iraq evenif Iraqi President Saddam Hussein takes US President George W. Bush's ultimatum to leave the country with his sons, the White House said Tuesday.

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US forces will enter Iraq evenif Iraqi President Saddam Hussein takes US President George W. Bush's ultimatum to leave the country with his sons, the White House said Tuesday.

"The president made it plain (Monday night) to the American people that if Saddam were to leave, American forces, coalition forces, would still enter Iraq," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer told reporters at a regular news briefing.

"The bottom line is a coalition of the willing will disarm Saddam Hussein's Iraq no matter what," Fleischer said.

However, he hoped this time the US-led coalition forces could enter Iraq "peacefully because Iraqi military would not be under orders to attack or fire back, and in that way Iraq could be disarmed from its possession of weapons of mass destruction."

In a prime-time televised address to the whole nation on Mondaynight, Bush warned if Saddam Hussein doesn't leave Iraq within 48 hours, he will face war.

"It is too late for Saddam Hussein to remain in power, it is not too late for the Iraqi military to act with honor and protect your country by allowing the peaceful entry of coalition forces toeliminate weapons of mass destruction," he said.

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