The 25 members of Iraq’s Governing Council unanimously approved a landmark interim constitution today at a meeting ahead of a signing ceremony.

Iraq ended three days of mourning for the victims of bloody attacks on Shiite shrines, opening the way for the signing today of the country’s interim constitution. Hours before the ceremony, several explosions went off in the capital, including two roadside bombs.

American and British officials faced tough questions from UN Secretary General Kofi Annan today about the transfer of power back to the Iraqi people.

Saddam Hussein deserves the “ultimate penalty” for his crimes, US president George Bush has told the nation.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has expressed hope that Saddam Hussein’s capture will accelerate reconciliation among Iraqis and the establishment of an Iraqi transitional government.

Saddam Hussein must await the judgment of the Iraqi people for his crimes against them, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and US President George Bush made plain tonight – even if that means execution for the way he conducted his brutal regime.

Former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein should be brought to trial for his crimes, not killed like his sons Uday and Qusay, the man appointed as Britain’s new envoy to Iraq said today.

Mortuaries were filled to overflowing in the Liberian capital Monrovia today as the battle for control of the city continued.

BRITISH Prime Minister Tony Blair suffered his first political casualty yesterday with the resignation of Robin Cook.

US President George W Bush last night set the US and Britain on course for war within days to depose Saddam Hussein.

US President George W Bush tonight set the US and Britain on course for war within days to depose Saddam Hussein.

A diplomatic resolution to the Iraq crisis "will not be possible" under the terms of United Nations Resolution 1441, Britain's Ambassador to the UN Sir Jeremy Greenstock said today.

The United States has rejected out of hand a proposal by Chile to give Saddam Hussein a last chance to disarm peacefully, leaving no compromise in sight and casting further doubt on any United Nations backing for war.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair was holding talks with ministers at Downing Street today, before an emergency summit with US president George Bush which could signal the final countdown to war on Iraq.

BRITISH Prime Minister Tony Blair yesterday vented his frustration at France and Russia — warning that their threats to veto a new United Nations resolution on Iraq risked letting Saddam Hussein “off the hook”.

Facing almost certain defeat, Britain and the US signalled today they would extend a deadline for Saddam Hussein to disarm or face war for a short period - but not the 45 days six swing council nations said they want.

Britain, the United States and Spain tonight submitted a new resolution to the UN seeking approval for military action against Iraq, declaring that Saddam Hussein has missed “the final opportunity” to disarm peacefully.

Britain’s UN ambassador Jeremy Greenstock is today expected to introduce a new Security Council resolution declaring Iraq in violation of obligations to disarm.

Israel’s ambassador has used a UN Security Council meeting on terrorism to attack Syria as “one of the world’s foremost sponsors of terrorism”.

WITH almost 200,000 US and British troops massed around it, the government of Saddam Hussein prepared Iraqis for war yesterday, equipping families with extra food and inviting citizens to help “inflict defeat on the evil aggressors.”

Britain and the United States are to introduce a new UN resolution that paves the way for military action against Iraq, while still giving Saddam Hussein a final few weeks to co-operate fully with the arms inspectors.

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and Catholic Archbishop of Westminster Cormac Murphy-O’Connor today issued a joint statement expressing doubts about the “moral legitimacy” of a war on Iraq and calling for a continuation of weapons inspections.

Britain and the US found themselves outgunned in the UN Security Council today by the eloquence of the French and determination of other nations to avoid war in Iraq.

France moved swiftly tonight to head off the prospect of United Nations-backed military action against Iraq after the long-awaited report of its chief weapons inspector Dr Hans Blix.

The United States and Britain were waiting to hear from the inspectors before deciding when to present a draft resolution that would either authorise military action or find Iraq in “material breach” of its obligations – a term that Washington and London believe would be enough to justify an attack, according to diplomats.

The United Nations Security Council remained bitterly divided today over pursuing peace or rushing to war in Iraq, with both sides going on the offensive before a key report from weapons inspectors.

Key members of the UN Security Council say the United States has so far failed to convince them that time has run out for a peaceful resolution to the crisis with Iraq.

The UN chief weapons inspector told the Security Council today that Iraq has still not accepted the need to disarm – a statement that kept the White House firmly on the war path.

After eight weeks of diplomatic wrangling, the United States is confident of winning UN approval today to finally force Saddam Hussein to disarm or face “serious consequences” that would almost certainly mean war.

US SECRETARY OF STATE Colin Powell has warned that the Bush administration would not be tied to the will of the UN, as the US was taken to task for its draft UN resolution on Iraq, with a majority of Security Council members opposing language which could authorise Washington to launch a war in Baghdad.

PUSHING ahead on Iraq after weeks of diplomatic wrangling, the United States put its tough new proposal into the hands of the Security Council in preparation for a vote that could come as early as next week.

The United States has backed down from its demand that a new UN resolution must authorise military force if Iraq fails to cooperate with UN weapons inspectors, Western diplomats said tonight.

The five permanent members of the UN Security Council remain divided on Iraq, despite US President George Bush’s call for a quick resolution.

The United Nations Security Council voted unanimously today to extend its peacekeeping mission in Bosnia until July 15.

The UN Security Council put pressure on the Israeli and Palestinian envoys last night to step up diplomatic efforts to halt the bloodshed in the Middle East.

Britain’s ambassador to the United Nations today denied the UN was moving too slowly in Afghanistan.

Russia today rejected a British plan to overhaul sanctions on Iraq and proposed its own resolution at the United Nations in New York, claiming it would speed up an end to sanctions.

The UN Security Council has imposed sanctions against Liberia for failing to sever its ties with rebels in Sierra Leone.