Blair renews warning to Saddam

British Prime Minister Tony Blair today issued a fresh warning to Saddam Hussein after the Iraqi parliament voted unanimously to reject the United Nations resolution calling for disarmament.

Mr Blair’s official spokesman said after the vote had been announced: “The Prime Minister’s reaction is that this changes nothing.

“Saddam Hussein knows what he has to do. He knows when he has to do it by. And he knows what will happen if he doesn’t do it.

“The demands of the international community are absolutely clear – namely disarmament.

“The choice of how that happens is Saddam’s, but that it will happen is not negotiable.”

Downing Street pointed out the French foreign ministry had said overnight that if Saddam did not comply with the first UN deadline on Friday, “there will be use of force”.

Mr Blair’s spokesman went on: “We have had the ’debate’ in the Iraqi parliament. I think everybody is pretty clear where the decision-making processes in Iraq lie.

“He has got seven days from last Friday to signal his intention to comply with resolution 1441.”

Although the Iraqi parliament earlier today rejected out of hand the UN resolution, it also made clear the final decision was Saddam’s.