Bush demands 'zero tolerance' Iraq policy

The Bush administration declared yesterday that it would have "zero tolerance" for any attempt by Saddam Hussein to thwart the UN weapons inspectors when they start their mission - the only chance of averting a US-led attack.

"If he doesn't intend to co-operate, we shouldn't waste the time of the world and of the UN inspectors," said Condoleezza Rice, the National Security Adviser.

The Security Council resolution passed unanimously last week "said the next violation is a 'material breach' and everyone knows what that means", she added, referring to the code phrase for a return to war.

Iraq said that its parliament would meet today to decide whether to accept the resolution. But Ms Rice dismissed the move as ludicrous. "Saddam Hussein is an absolute dictator and tyrant. It's up to him, yes or no. He needs to acknowledge he's changed attitude and is prepared to co-operate."

In separate but co-ordinated appearances on morning television talk shows, she and Colin Powell, the Secretary of State, set out the Bush administration's interpretation of the resolution, which gives the inspectors sweeping and intrusive powers when they return to Iraq later this month.

Geoff Hoon, Britain's Secretary of State for Defence, and the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, also made clear that military action would follow if Iraq continued to prevaricate.

Mr Hoon, asked if the US would need a further UN mandate before going to war, told the BBC's On The Record programme: "I don't think that's necessarily the case, no."

The showdown could come in little more than a month if Iraq accepts the terms of the resolution by next Friday's deadline. Within 30 days thereafter, Baghdad must provide a full inventory of its chemical, biological and nuclear weapons programmes and of its missile capability. "A false declaration constitutes of itself a material breach," General Powell said.

Hans Blix, the chief of Unmovic, the UN weapons inspection organisation, and his team "can go wherever they want to go. There can be some announcement but the notice will be very short, a matter of hours, not of days, to allow them to cook the books. The question is, are the Iraqis finally co-operating," General Powell added. At the first report of Iraqi obstruction, the UN Security Council would convene. The US would participate in that debate "but at no point will we give up the authority, if we conclude the debate is going nowhere, to act as we believe necessary", he said.