US Secretary of State Colin Powell will fabricate evidence against Saddam Hussein’s regime this week when he appears before the UN Security Council, officials in Baghdad charged today.

The Iraqi parliament was convening in an emergency session today, called by President Saddam Hussein to consider a response to a UN resolution and a day after Arab ministers urged Baghdad to cooperate with weapons inspectors.

Seven words from Iraq’s deputy premier today put Baghdad on course for a military showdown with the US.

Turkey's prime minister has called on Saddam Hussein to allow UN weapons inspectors into Iraq, and warned refusal could bring massive US retaliation.