Bush sets the timetable for war: 48 hours and counting

Exile or war. George Bush handed Saddam Hussein that final stark choice last night as he delivered a 48-hour deadline for the Iraqi dictator to leave the country or face military conflict.

In sombre tones, the US leader insisted America had full sovereign authority to use force to assure its own national security. He said: "Saddam Hussein and his sons must leave within 48 hours. Their refusal will result in military conflict at a time of our choosing."

In his 15-minute address from the White House, Mr Bush appealed to the Iraqi military "not to fight for a dying regime. It is not worth your own life."

He added that the tyrant would soon be gone, "the day of liberation is near" and warned the Iraqi government not to destroy its oil wells, and not to obey any order to use weapons of mass destruction. War criminals would be prosecuted, Mr Bush declared.

He said: "It will be no defence to say, 'I was just obeying orders,'" and he added ominously, "Every measure will be taken to win this war," hinting if the Iraqis use such weapons, the US would reply in kind.

The warning was issued as Pentagon officials suggested Iraqi Republican Guard units south of Baghdad may have been issued with chemical weapons for possible use to stall an expected US thrust towards the capital. But there was no confirmation last night.

Mr Bush's address came just hours after the collapse of British and US attempts to secure UN consensus on disarming Iraq by force. The narrow timeframe means that if President Saddam remains defiant, war could be launched as soon as the early hours of Thursday morning, Baghdad time.

If so, President Saddam would face the full military might of a 280,000-strong US-led force, first in a withering aerial bombardment, and then in a rapid ground attack directed at Baghdad and other cities.

Earlier, Colin Powell, the Secretary of State declared "the time for diplomacy has passed. I can think of nothing that Saddam Hussein could do diplomatically. He's had many chances over the past 12 years and he's blown every one."

With the UN Security Council in disarray, signs that an assault on Iraq was just days away, were everywhere. The UN weapons inspectors were ordered to leave Baghdad. Many governments ordered their nationals to flee and many media organisations pulled out.

The news triggered a sharp surge in share prices in New York, London and across Europe. The main European indices finished at least 3 per cent up and the Dow Jones closed more than 3.5 per cent up on the day's trading, as traders welcomed an end to the uncertainty and predicted that the fighting would be over quickly.

Efforts to win UN backing for a US-led invasion ended abruptly in New York when America and Britain ­ unable to muster even a "moral majority" of the Security Council ­ announced they were withdrawing a draft second resolution. "It was our judgement that no further purpose would be served by pushing this resolution," General Powell said.

Mr Bush was even more scathing: "The UN Security Council has not fulfilled its responsibility. We will rise to ours."

At an emergency meeting of the Cabinet, Mr Blair won backing to commit British troops to battle. Of the 23 ministers present, the only dissenting voice was Clare Short, the International Development Secretary. Robin Cook, the Leader of the Commons, resigned before the meeting. MPs will vote tonight on whether to back "all means necessary" ­ the use of force ­ to disarm Iraq..

In New York, the legitimacy of military action without further authorisation by the Security Council was challenged again by Kofi Annan, the UN secretary general, although he refrained from branding it illegal. And, humiliated by their diplomatic failure, Britain and America launched a verbal assault on France, blaming it for causing the collapse of negotiations. Sir Jeremy Greenstock, the British ambassador to the UN, scorned the "one country" that had "rejected our proposed compromise even before the Iraqi government itself".

Mr Blair told the Cabinet President Saddam could have been disarmed "without a shot being fired" if France had not scuppered attempts to secure a new UN resolution. He said Britain would have allowed a longer period of time for the UN inspectors if France had agreed to an ultimatum.

In a potential boost for the war plans, the Turkish government and military leaders reached agreement on allowing US troops to use Turkey as a "northern front". The decision could be submitted to parliament as early as tomorrow.

The Iraqi President betrayed no sign that he was preparing to stand down. He also warned that American forces would be met by Iraqi fighters ready to die for their country "behind every rock, tree and wall".

¿ Support for war has increased over the past month, according to an ICM poll for The Guardian that found 38 per cent in favour, up nine points, while opposition dropped eight points to 44 per cent. In the US, public opinion backs military action by a 2-1 margin.