'Show some backbone', Bush urges UN

The UN was today given a stern warning by US President George W Bush to “show some backbone” and confront Saddam Hussein over Iraq.

President Bush said the UN should “show its relevance”, adding: “Make no mistake about it. If we have to deal with the problem, we’ll deal with it.”

His warning from Camp David was echoed in New York in a speech to the UN general assembly by British foreign secretary Jack Straw, who said the UN must insist Saddam re-admits weapons inspectors or both the organisation and Iraq will face the consequences.

Mr Straw said the international community must not “stand by and do nothing” while Saddam “persistently mocked” the authority of the UN by defying its resolutions on weapons of mass destruction.

He made clear that every member state of the organisation had a responsibility to act or the authority of the UN itself was at stake.

The UN had to be clear to Baghdad and to itself of the “consequences which will flow from a failure by Iraq to meet its obligations”, he said.

Mr Straw sought to calm fears about the US and Britain acting alone by making clear that any action against Iraq must secure the will of the UN.

But Mr Bush went further. He said: “The United Nations deserves another chance to prove its relevance. This is a chance for the United Nations to show some backbone.”

Despite US threats of an attack, Iraq’s Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz has rejected demands for the unconditional return of weapons inspectors to Baghdad.

In his speech, Mr Straw said: “We cannot let the United Nations’ unique authority, leading the international community, be undermined by those who have no respect for it.

“It is the responsibility of all of us here in this assembly to ensure that the legitimacy, the authority and the capacity of the UN to preserve peace and to build prosperity is strengthened, not undermined.”

If the UN failed to deal with the challenge of Iraq, it would be “seriously weakened”, making the world a much more dangerous place, he said.

“We have to be resolute in the face of Iraq’s defiance and secure the will of the United Nations.

“We must require Iraq to re-admit inspectors with unfettered access. We have not just an interest but a responsibility to ensure that Iraq complies fully with international law.

“We have to be clear to Iraq and to ourselves about the consequences which will flow from a failure by Iraq to meet its obligations.”

Mr Straw’s speech followed an intense round of diplomacy at the UN in New York yesterday.

This included a meeting of foreign ministers of the five permanent council members with veto power - the US, Britain, Russia, France and China - to seek agreement on a council resolution giving Iraq an ultimatum to obey UN demands.

The five did not reach agreement on a specific deadline.