Iraq 'Close To Nuclear Bomb'

Iraq has the potential to build a working nuclear bomb within a year, a leading think-tank has warned.

The Iraqi government would need to import nuclear material from abroad, but once that has been achieved there is nothing to stop Saddam Hussein developing nuclear missiles.

John Chipman, director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, says it would then be possible to strike Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Israel, Turkey, Jordan or Iran.

The institute will release a full report on Iraq's military capability later today.

Mr Chipman said: "Were he able to obtain fissile material from abroad, steal it or buy it in some way, we certainly believe he has the ability to put together a nuclear weapon very quickly in a matter of months.

"They were always aiming to be able to arm their ballistic missiles with a nuclear weapon so it would be just a question of working on the physics for a number of months, maybe a year, to be able to marry the warhead to a ballistic missile."

The London-based IISS also says Iraq has chemical and biological weapons.

But Saddam only possesses a limited and uncertain capacity to deliver them, the report concludes.

The British Government is due to publish within the next few weeks a file of evidence against Saddam which Downing Street claims will prove the need for swift action.

It comes as Tony Blair and George W Bush lay down a final ultimatum for Saddam: comply with the UN or face attack.

The pair, who met for talks at Camp David near Washington at the weekend, want UN weapons inspectors allowed in with unlimited access.

Mr Blair is expected to outline his position in a speech to the TUC on Tuesday as efforts to build an international consensus continue.