US Secretary of State Colin Powell, laying out a case for war on Iraq before the UN Security Council, has said that Baghdad was continuing a longstanding "policy of evasion and deception" with UN weapons inspectors.
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A screen grab from Mr Powell's presentation
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In an 80-minute speech Mr Powell said the United States will not allow Iraq to remain in possession of weapons of mass destruction for even a few months longer.
"Leaving Saddam Hussein in possession of weapons of massdestruction for a few more months or years is not an option," he said.
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Using voice recordings, photographs and "solid" intelligence sources Mr Powell said Iraq continued its banned weapons programme and had harboured members of al Qaeda after the US invasion of Afghanistan.
Mr Powell said the regime of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was making an "active and systematic effort to keep key materials and people from inspectors."
He said Iraqi intelligence agents and politicians had hidden "banned items" in cars and houses in an effort to evade UN inspectors.
The keenly-awaited presentation was aimed at dispelling widespread doubts that Baghdad is flouting UN demands to disarm under Security Council Resolution 1441 passed unanimously in November.
Mr Powell told the 14 other Security Council members: "Iraq's behavior demonstrates that Saddam Hussein and his regime have made no effort - no effort - to disarm as required by the international community."
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A satellite image used by Mr Powell
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He added that Baghdad "has now placed itself in danger of the serious consequences in Resolution 1441" and warned the world body that it risked irrelevance if it did not now consider the "serious consequences" contemplated for noncompliance.
He also presented what he said were eyewitness accounts of Iraq's ongoing biological weapons programmes.
Saddam has investigated "dozens" of diseases, including cholera and typhus, Powell said. "He also has the wherewithal to produce smallpox."
In a dramatic gesture, Powell held up a small phial, saying it could hold enough anthrax to shut down the US Senate.
While Iraq has declared the past production of 8,500 liters of anthrax, Mr Powell said UN inspectors had previously estimated the total at 22,000 liters. Such an amount added up to "tens upon tens upon tens of thousands of teaspoonfuls," Mr Powell said. "And Saddam Hussein has not accounted for even one teaspoonful of this deadly material."
He went on: "Saddam Hussein is determined to get his hands on a nuclear bomb."
He also told the Security Council that "Iraq harbors a deadly terrorist network headed by Abu Musab Zarqawi, an associate and collaborator of Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda lieutenant."
According to Mr Powell, Zarqawi spent two months in Baghdad in May and June 2002 for medical treatment and that some members of his groups were now based in the Iraqi capital.
"They have now been operating freely in the capital formore than eight months. Iraqi officials deny accusations ofties with al Qaeda. These denials are simply not credible,"Mr Powell said.
Mr Powell added that his information was backed up by "solid sources". "These are not assertions", he said.
Washington and London are pushing for a speedy second UN resolution authorising military action, with US President George W. Bush indicating that Washington is prepared to act without formal international backing if the UN process drags on.
Meanwhile a NATO official said the body's ruling council will meet tomorrow to discuss a formal US request to support military action against Iraq.
AFP