Bush under fire over Iraq war

President Bush is facing growing criticism at home and abroad for his defence of America's war against Iraq at the United Nations yesterday.

Some of the strongest attacks came from senior Democrats, who believe that Mr Bush's growing unpopularity at home could see him defeated in next year's presidential election.

Senate minority leader Tom Daschle called Mr Bush's speech before the UN General Assembly "a missed opportunity", saying that he had failed to make a case for international support.

Senator Joseph Lieberman, who ran for vice-president with Al Gore three years ago, accused the president of taking a "told you so" tone with the international community.

Opinion polls taken over the weekend show support for Mr Bush slumping to the lowest point of his presidency, with growing concerns over the economy and fears of a Vietnam-style quagmire for US forces in Iraq.

After once seeming unbeatable for his strong leadership following the September 11 attacks, Mr Bush now has the backing of less than the half of American voters and is lagging behind several Democrats, including former Nato chief, retired general Wesley Clark.

In his address to the UN, Mr Bush remained unrepentant over going to war with Saddam Hussein with little support from the international community beyond Britain.

His speech was received politely but without enthusiasm by most UN delegates, who warmly applauded some of Mr Bush's toughest critics, including the French president Jacques Chirac.

In a direct attack on US policy, Mr Chirac told the UN: "No one should assign themselves the right to use force unilaterally and pre-emptively."

Opening the UN meeting, Secretary General Kofi Annan said America's new doctrine of unilateral military action could "set precedents that resulted in a proliferation of the unilateral and lawless use of force, with or without credible justification".