US Secretary of State Colin Powell has warned that time is running out for efforts to prevent war on Iraq.
Although he refused to predict when war would begin, he hinted a decision on military action would be made next week.
Mr Powell told Britain's Channel 4 News this evening that the US will not start any action until after the report of weapons inspectors Dr Hans Blix and Mr Mohamed ElBaradei on Friday.
He said the US would prefer to secure a second resolution from the UN Security Council, but he made it clear that the US was ready to go alone - or with a "coalition of the willing" - if UN support could not be achieved.
Asked how long Washington was willing to wait, Mr Powell said: "We'll wait and see what they say on Friday and then I would say in the not-too-distant future. We're not talking a long period of time.
"I don't want to get too pinned down on days or weeks or a week, but certainly I think next week we would have to give very serious consideration as to what the next step would be."
Mr Powell acknowledged that going to war without a second resolution would create political difficulties for British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Mr Powell said the decision by the Turkish parliament to deny the US bases for its troops is a disappointment but says he's confident it will not prevent America from carrying out its objectives.
AP