Powell hints war decision will come next week

US Secretary of State Colin Powell yesterday said “time is running out” for efforts to prevent war on Iraq.

He refused to predict when war would begin but hinted a decision on military action would be made next week.

Mr Powell said the US would not start any action until after the report of weapons inspectors Hans Blix and Mohamed El Baradei on Friday and would prefer to secure a second resolution from the UN Security Council.

But he made clear the US was ready to go alone or with a "coalition of the willing" if UN support could not be achieved.

Asked how long Washington was willing to wait, Mr Powell told Channel 4 News: "We'll wait and see what they say on Friday and then I would say in the not-too-distant future. We're not talking a long period of time.

Mr Powell acknowledged going to war without a second resolution would create "political difficulties" for Tony Blair. But he said: "If it is clear that this is something that has to be done, then we do it and we do it well and efficiently, as I'm quite sure we will.

In time, he said, it will be seen as wise, enlightened, bold leadership and all political leaders will benefit from that."

Mr Powell was dismissive of recent developments which have seen Baghdad agree to destroy banned missiles and to discuss anthrax and VX nerve gas with inspectors.

"It changes the propaganda battle, but it doesn't change reality," he said.

He said the decision of the Turkish parliament to deny the US bases for its troops was a "disappointment" but he was confident it would not prevent America from carrying out its mission "in an efficient and effective way and achieve our objectives."