PRESIDENT BUSH and Tony Blair warned Iraq last night of the “severest consequences” if it failed to disarm after the United Nations Security Council voted unanimously to give President Saddam Hussein a week to accept an uncompromising new inspection regime.

“The outcome of the current crisis is already determined,” Mr Bush said. “The full disarmament of weapons of mass destruction by Iraq will occur. The only question for the Iraqi people is to decide how . . . His co-operation must be full and unconditional or he will face the severest consequences.”

In Downing Street Mr Blair declared: “Conflict is not inevitable, but disarmament is. Defy the UN’s will and we will disarm you by force. Be in no doubt whatever of that.”

Mr Bush described the UN vote as historic, and the message it sent Saddam was all the stronger because, contrary to expectations, even Syria, the only Arab nation on the Security Council, voted in favour. He said that Saddam’s game of “cheat and retreat” was over after 11 years defying 16 previous resolutions.

An advance team of UN weapons inspectors will arrive in Baghdad on Monday week after an absence of four years.

After weeks of urging the UN to show some “backbone”, Mr Bush applauded the Security Council for acting with courage. He also praised Colin Powell, the Secretary of State, who has made more than 150 telephone calls to fellow foreign ministers to gain their support.

The resolution was the result of eight weeks of diplomatic wrangling. The US conceded some ground to France and Russia, removing the threat of automatic force if the inspections falter.

But the thrust of Washington’s main demands remained intact: a tougher inspection regime that leaves Mr Bush free to initiate military action if it fails. Mr Bush, his standing enhanced by his victories in this week’s congressional elections, said that the resolution represented a “final test” for Saddam.

Mr Blair told reporters: “Saddam must now make his choice. My message to him is this — disarm or you face force. There must be no more games, no more deceit, no more prevarication, obstruction or defiance.”

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