Iraq war will not wait, says Bush

America today piled the pressure on Saddam Hussein with a warning that war could come as early as next month.

The uncompromising message was delivered by both President Bush and US secretary of state Colin Powell.

Brushing aside the widespread belief that military action would wait until next year, Mr Powell said: "We're not going to wait until February to see whether Iraq is co-operating or not."

He pointed to the deadline set by the United Nations of 8 December, the date by which Iraq must declare its weapons of mass destruction centres, and went on: "This is not some resolution to be ignored as he's ignored all previous resolutions."

The menacing message was reinforced by the president, who made clear he was ready to go to war. Unless Saddam fully disposed of his weapons of mass destruction, the president said: "America will lead a coalition to fully disarm him."

At the same time, however, there were signs that a game of threat and counter-threat was under way from both sides.

The Iraqi parliament, a rubber stamp for Saddam, entered the second day of its debate on the UN resolution demanding weapons inspectors be readmitted on a note of defiance.

Speakers called it a provocative and unacceptable intrusion on Iraq's sovereignty, although today Saddam's son, Uday, called for a more conciliatory line. There was no real doubt that the eventual decision, which according to the UN must come by this Friday, would rest with Saddam.