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Bush: Saddam has 48 hours to leave IraqIraqi foreign minister: President won't flee
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Saying the "danger was clear" that the Iraqi regime would provide terrorists with biological, chemical or nuclear weapons, President Bush gave Iraqi President Saddam Hussein 48 hours for him and his sons to leave Iraq before military action begins "at a time of our choosing." The 48-hour deadline would arrive at 4 a.m. Thursday in Baghdad [8 p.m. Wednesday EST]. The ultimatum came in a 13-minute, televised speech from the White House. (Full story) Making his case for military action, Bush said the Iraqi regime had repeatedly defied the will of the international community since the end of the Persian Gulf War 12 years ago by violating numerous U.N. Security Council resolutions demanding that it give up its weapons of mass destruction. Iraq has consistently denied possessing such chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. "The danger is clear: Using chemical, biological or, one day, nuclear weapons obtained with the help of Iraq, the terrorists could fulfill their stated ambitions and kill thousands or hundreds of thousands of innocent people in our country or any other," Bush said. In other developments: • Earlier Monday, Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri ruled out the possibility of Saddam relinquishing power and leaving Iraq. Sabri called Bush a "crazy man" and suggested that Bush step down instead to let the world live in peace. (Full story) • Iraq's Republican Guard, some of Saddam Hussein's best-trained and -equipped troops, are leaving their garrisons and dispersing around Baghdad, Pentagon officials said Monday. The moves appear to be defensive, aimed at surviving the punishing airstrikes that the United States has promised will instill "shock and awe" in the first hours and days of a war. • With military action against Iraq looming, the Bush administration raised the national terrorism threat alert level from "yellow" to "orange" Monday night, the Homeland Security Department announced. (Full story) • New York authorities began implementing "Operation Atlas" -- a plan to bolster security throughout the city, a law enforcement source said. Atlas, which could cost the city more than $5 million a week, will go into full effect should war with Iraq begin, the source said. (Full story) • Turkey's Cabinet will discuss on Tuesday a proposal to let U.S. troops attack Iraq from Turkish soil in the event of war, and will present the matter to Parliament for a vote Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener told reporters. Lawmakers rejected a measure this month that would have let the United States base 62,000 troops in Turkey. • British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said late Monday that Parliament will debate British participation in military action against Iraq on Tuesday. Earlier Monday, Robin Cook, a senior Cabinet member, resigned in protest. Clare Short, another Cabinet member, has threatened to resign. • During a session of Canada's Parliament on Monday, Prime Minister Jean Chretien said: "If military action [in Iraq] is launched without a new [U.N.] resolution, Canada will not participate." • The Australian government has agreed to commit troops to likely military action against Iraq after a formal request for support from President Bush. Prime Minister John Howard told Australian media Tuesday that disarming Iraq was in Australia's best interests and that taking military action now was the right and legal thing to do. (Full story) • U.N. personnel, including about 60 weapons inspectors, 75 support staff and nearly 200 humanitarian workers, began leaving Iraq early Tuesday. • Saddam, in a statement read by an anchor on Iraqi television, reiterated his stance that Iraq has destroyed all of its weapons of mass destruction. (Full story) • U.S. officials said Monday that there is "recent" and "fresh" evidence that Iraq is planning to use chemical weapons, perhaps against U.S. forces or Iraqi citizens. Officials said they have information that Republican Guard units south of Baghdad have been issued chemical munitions but have no direct evidence. There is also growing concern that some Iraqi artillery units near the Kuwaiti border can fire shells filled with chemical weapons. (Full story) • Israel's Homefront Command told Israelis on Monday to make sure sealed safe rooms in their homes are ready. During the Persian Gulf War, Iraq launched a number of Scud missiles at Israel. Israeli officials have said that the nation is better prepared to defend itself and its citizens against missile attacks. • An Arab League ambassador said, "It's a very grave day. This is the day that international law has been shoveled away. War will not solve this problem. Unfortunately those who are going to war will find it will be very difficult to get out of it." • U.N. Security Council members France, Russia, China and Germany are among the nations that insist Iraq can be disarmed peacefully. French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin, speaking to Europe 1 radio, said: "One country can win a war, but it takes more than one country to win peace." (Full story) Russian President Vladimir Putin said a possible war in Iraq would be "a mistake fraught with the gravest consequences which may result in casualties and destabilize the international situation in general." Li Zhaoxing, the Chinese foreign minister, said, "We appeal for a political settlement to the Iraq question within the framework of the United Nations and urge all efforts to avoid war." • U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan reiterated his stance that, should military action occur in the region without the blessing of the world body, "its legitimacy would be questioned." • The 15-member U.N. Security Council met Monday behind closed doors, after which council President Mamady Traore said members decided to return Wednesday morning to discuss the weapons inspectors' work program, even though they are being withdrawn from Iraq. (Full story) • John Negroponte, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said he thought the Security Council vote "would have been close" and said France's threatened veto was the reason it was not brought to a vote. "We regret that in the face of an explicit threat to veto, the vote-counting became a secondary consideration," Negroponte said. French Ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sabliere said: "The majority of the council confirmed they do not want a use of force." De La Sabliere said the council also discussed a joint declaration on Iraq by France, Russia and Germany proposing a ministerial-level meeting be held "as soon as possible." • A senior Pentagon official reported that Iraq has enough explosives in its oil fields to set them afire but said there is no evidence any wells have been wired with explosives. • The U.S. State Department urged Americans to leave Kuwait immediately because of the threat of war. • Bush administration officials are working to ensure that humanitarian aid to Iraqis is "ready to go into action on very short notice," as one official put it. Copyright 2003 CNN. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.
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