UN inspectors provide Bush with fresh trigger for war

An invasion of Iraq by the US and Britain could come even sooner than expected, as United Nations weapons inspectors threw down a double challenge to Saddam Hussein, and President Bush issued his sternest warning yet to the UN to fall into line or face irrelevance.

The new pressure on Baghdad comes as Tony Blair risks a huge Commons rebellion this week when Labour MPs are ordered by the whips to support the threat of military force against Iraq.

Last night, war appeared closer than ever as the UN's top nuclear weapons inspector warned that Iraq was still stalling. Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said Iraq was not fully co-operating with weapons inspectors. Another trigger for war could be the unexpected deadline issued by his colleague, Hans Blix, that Iraq should start destroying dozens of missiles with a range which exceeds UN limits. Baghdad complained that this would be "tantamount to suicide".

And from his ranch at Crawford Texas, where he met Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar of Spain, Mr Bush warned: "Time is short." Accusing Saddam of continuing to cheat and dissemble, he insisted that this was a last chance "for the Security Council to show its relevance". The two leaders discussed the final draft of the "clear and simple" second resolution the US and Britain will introduce at the Security Council tomorrow, declaring that Iraq is in breach of its UN obligations and therefore faces "serious consequences" ­ diplomatic code for war.

But opposition to war is mounting around the world and particularly in Britain, where Mr Blair desperately needs the political cover of a new UN resolution. Yesterday's summit of 114 non-aligned nations joined the African leaders who met last week in Paris in backing France's call for the inspectors to be given more time.

The Prime Minister, who had a private meeting with the Pope in which they set out their conflicting views on the impending war, will try to keep most MPs on his side by announcing what he will call his "last push for peace".

The political stakes will be raised yet higher this morning when one of the most popular members of the Cabinet, Clare Short, sets out the terms on which she is prepared to support a military strike against Iraq.

In an interview for GMTV's Sunday programme, the International Development Secretary revealed that "most of my family and most of the people I know" took part in last weekend's huge anti-war demonstration. But she went on: "There are some people who say 'no force at any price' and I understand that emotionally, but I can't claim to be a responsible member of the UK government if we're willing to see the UN endlessly humiliated and the people of Iraq endlessly suffer."

Mr Blair is hoping that for as long as the "UN route" to a possible war is adhered to, he can avoid a split in his own Cabinet and the consequent risk of Parliamentary defeat. This month, 120 MPs, 84 of them Labour. signed a Commons motions opposing war unless a series of conditions had been met.

Commons business managers now have the task of writing a "substantive motion" on which MPs will vote on Wednesday.

Downing Street yesterday released a detailed list of the illegal weapons which Iraq is still suspected of concealing from UN inspectors, including 360 tons of bulk chemical warfare agents and other materials for producing deadly toxins such as VX nerve gas and anthrax.