Saddam warns of war across world

SADDAM HUSSEIN last night warned if Iraq were attacked, it would take the war anywhere in the world "wherever there is sky, land or water".

The Iraqi president's threat was made during a meeting with military commanders and his remarks were carried by the official Iraqi News Agency.

"When the enemy starts a large-scale battle, he must realise that the battle between us will be open wherever there is sky, land and water in the entire world," Saddam told the commanders, according to the news agency.

Saddam also denied that Iraq has any weapons of mass destruction, as the United States and Britain claim.

"Are weapons of mass destruction a needle that you can conceal in a head cover or in the scarf of an old woman that (UN weapons) inspectors cannot find?" Saddam asked.

"There are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq," he added, joking: "Give us time and the necessary means and we will produce any weapon they want and then we will invite them to come and destroy them."

The statement was released as US President George W Bush, Prime Minister Tony Blair and the leaders of Spain and Portugal met in the Azores and agreed on one final attempt to win world backing tomorrow for the swift disarmament of Saddam.

"Tomorrow is a moment of truth for the world," the president said at a news conference. Bush and allied leaders agreed a final attempt to win world backing today for the swift disarmament of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

Bush urged other nations to support "the immediate and unconditional disarmament" of the Iraqi leader.

France, Germany and Russia have opposed an additional UN resolution to set an ultimatum for the Iraqi leader to disarm. Efforts to win the votes of uncommitted nations at the 15-country UN Security Council have faltered.

Bush, Blair, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar and Portugal Prime Minister Jose Durao Barroso met at an American airbase in the Azores, a Portuguese territory in the Atlantic Ocean, as more than 250,000 troops gathered in the Persian Gulf area poised to strike.

Aznar said the agreement among the leaders marked "a last chance, one last attempt to reach the greatest possible consensus among ourselves".

Bush sounded like he didn't expect reluctant countries to change their minds. Asked whether today was the day that would determine whether diplomacy could work he replied, "That's what I'm saying. We hope the UN will do its job."

Alternatively, he said: "Saddam Hussein can leave the country if he's interested in peace."

France and Russia both permanent Security Council members with veto power along with Germany are leading a campaign seeking to stop Bush's push for military action Iraq and urging for more time for UN weapons inspectors to do their job.

Bush was scornful of France's role in the diplomatic tug of war that has unfolded in recent months.

Noting that he said 10 days ago he wanted the nations of the Security Council to show their cards, he said, "France showed their cards. After I said what I said, they said they were going to veto anything that held Saddam to account."

Blair noted that some nations oppose any ultimatum to Saddam. The result, he said, is that the Iraqi leader is playing a game that he has played over the last 12 years.

"Disarmament never happens but instead the international community is drawn into some perpetual negotiation," he said.