US and Britain agree on Iraq resolution

Britain and the US have reached agreement on a tough UN resolution on Iraq and will present a proposed text to Russia, France and China, the other permanent members of the Security Council, a senior White House official said tonight.

Meanwhile, President George Bush said he is close to a deal with Congress to “speak with one voice” against Saddam Hussein.

But Democratic leaders, still bristling at White House criticism, said there’s no consensus on an anti-Iraq resolution.

“Democrats and Republicans refuse to live in a future of fear,” Bush said in the White house Rose Garden, flanked by Democratic and Republican congressmen who support his plans to oust Saddam – with military force if necessary.

A senior administration official said the Pentagon is preparing to train at least 1,000 Iraqi opponents of Saddam to assist US troops in the event of an assault.

The Pentagon is waiting for Bush to sign a directive that would authorise the training under the 1998 Iraq Liberation act. .

The Defence Department is compiling a list of recruits and looking at how much training they would get, who would do it and other details, said a Pentagon official.

Bush made the remarks amid a backdrop of fingerpointing and name-calling as both the White House and congressional Democrats accused each other playing politics with the issue.

Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and House Democratic leader Dick Gephardt were less optimistic, saying at a news conference that there was no consensus on an anti-Iraq resolution and they didn’t know if Congress could vote on the issue next week as planned.

Bush painted a grim portrait of Saddam’s regime and its threat to the United States. He restated his belief that Saddam has stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons and could soon develop a nuclear weapon.

“We know he must be stopped,” Bush said.

“To ignore these threats is to encourage them, and when they’re fully materialised, it may be too late to protect ourselves and our friends and our allies,” the president said.

“By then, the Iraqi dictator would have the means to terrorise and dominate the region. Each passing day could be the one which the Iraq regime gives anthrax or VX nerve gas or some day a nuclear weapon to a terrorist ally.”

"Bush also accused Iraq’s government led by a “dangerous and brutal man” of using rape to intimidate women and of torturing its dissenters.

Bush’s remarks - though far short of an apology sought by Democrats - were meant to return civility to the debate and erase any doubts Democrats and the general public might have about his motives, White House officials said.

“We’re near an agreement soon and we will speak with one voice,” Bush said.

As the bitter back and forth threatened negotiations over a resolution giving Bush power to wage war, he said, “We are engaged in a deliberate and civil and thorough discussion. We are moving toward a strong resolution. All of us, and many others in Congress, are united in our determination to confront an urgent threat to America.”

His appearance, organised at the last minute by the White House, came at the same time as a news conference that Democratic leaders had planned with live TV coverage.

Bush spoke shortly after House Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt said the administration must “take security out of politics,” saying a bitter partisan fight complicates efforts to find unity on Iraq.