UN: The UN Security Council will convene this morning to vote on the US resolution on disarming Iraq, with a large majority of the 15-member body, including Ireland, expected to vote in favour.
In Washington President Bush said this time disarmament of Iraq would be "for real", while in Baghdad Iraqi President Saddam Hussein said the US and Britain were forcing the world to "a new law, which is the law of evil based on power and opportunity."
Further revisions were made in the US text yesterday, mainly to accommodate objections from Russia about hidden triggers for an American attack on Iraq.
The US last night tabled the latest draft to the full council after Mr Bush spoke with Russia's President Vladimir Putin and French President Jacques Chirac by telephone.
Later Mr Bush said, "I am optimistic we'll get the resolution vote tomorrow."
The revised text will be sent to Dublin for approval by the Government before the Irish vote is cast by Ambassador Mr Richard Ryan. The Irish mission also asked for some revisions in the text during debate yesterday.
Most Security Council members are, however, believed to be within a "comfort zone" about the latest wording, because the resolution provides for a second stage, when the council will reconvene to discuss any alleged "material breach" by Iraq before US action.
The resolution provides for "serious consequences" if Iraq defies the inspectors. Paragraph 4, disputed by France and Russia, could allow the Americans to circumvent the inspectors to report a "material breach" of inspections to the council at any time.
It says false statement or omissions as well as obstruction by Iraq would constitute a "material breach", a phrase which can be taken as a cause for war.
The US could then impose "serious consequences" on Iraq without a second resolution. Mr Bush said the resolution was "a statement of intent to once and for all disarm Saddam Hussein", that it was "now time for the world to come together to disarm him" and that "this time it's for real".
Referring to US frustrations in eight weeks of intensive lobbying of the UN, Mr Bush quipped "I wouldn't call it a gnashing of teeth but it took a while, grinding it out." Mr Bush softened his often belligerent tone towards the UN, calling it "an important body for helping the peace", that was now "ready to face up to its responsibilities."
He warned Iraq, "Should we have to use force, the US with friends will move swiftly with force to do the job."
He told Iraqi generals that "there will be consequences for their behaviour".
US Secretary of State Mr Colin Powell said the decision was in Saddam Hussein's hands. "If they don't intend to co-operate, I think that will become obvious rather soon, and the UN will have to make its judgment as to whether they want to participate in a charade with the Iraqi government or whether they want immediately to convene to see if something else should be done."
Syria, the Arab representative on the Security Council, asked yesterday for a delay to Monday to consult other Arab countries, UN Secretary-General Mr Kofi Annan said.
"If Iraq co-operates and the inspectors can get that work done, then I think the council will be less inclined to think in terms of military action." A minimum of nine votes and no veto is required for adoption of a resolution.
Chief UN weapons inspector Dr Hans Blix said an advance team would go to Baghdad within 10 days after the resolution is approved.
The inspectors have 45 days to begin work and submit a report to the council within 60 days thereafter. Once the resolution is adopted, Iraq has seven days to accept its terms and 30 days to submit a declaration of all programmes to develop nuclear, chemical, biological or ballistic weapons and all related materials.
Guardian Service adds: The British government is poised to mobilise thousands of troops for a possible war against Iraq, defence sources said yesterday. They said agreement on the UN Security Council resolution would provide a trigger for the Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, to step up Britain's preparations for a conflict.
Military planners are increasingly impatient at the lack of a political decision about the size and make-up of Britain's contribution to any attack on Iraq.
While US troops have been deployed to the Gulf where they have been exercising and acclimatising for weeks, British troops who would be expected to join them have stayed at their bases in Britain or Germany.