World News 07-11-2002 "Last Chance" For Saddam Says Bush who: George W Bush what: Produces tough new UN resolution against Iraq where: Washington DC when: Yesterday snippet: George Bush yesterday "moved swiftly to turn the screw on Saddam Hussein as he produced a tough new United Nations resolution on Iraq," reports The Scotsman, "just hours after the US electorate gave him a resounding mandate to step up the war on terror. It was a clear indication that Mr Bush, buoyed by the stunning Republican victory in the US elections, had returned to his foreign agenda with renewed vigour." Just hours after his party seized control of the Senate, The Times says Bush has "set the clock ticking for military action" against Saddam Hussein: "Officials tabled a final draft resolution at the United Nations in New York that will establish a series of trip-wires for an attack should Baghdad fail to co-operate with UN weapons inspectors." The resolution declares at the outset that Iraq is in "material breach" of existing resolutions "obliging it, under the terms of the Gulf War ceasefire, to rid itself of all weapons of mass destruction", explains The Guardian. "It adds that the Council is giving Iraq a `final opportunity` to comply. The text warns Iraq that if it makes `false statements or omissions` in dealing with chief weapons inspector Hans Blix or fails to co-operate with inspectors, that would "constitute a further material breach"; wording that is diplomatic code for grounds for war." Speaking in the House of Commons, Tony Blair welcomed the breakthrough. "It will be a tough new inspection regime," he said, stressing that war was not inevitable. "It is not conflict that is inevitable, it is the disarmament of these weapons of mass destruction that is inevitable." [... more]

What The Papers Say is delivered to thousands of readers every morning by web, WAP and email. Sign up today!