U.S., Britain, Spain discuss final chance for peace in Iraq

President Bush speaks in the Azores after the summit on Iraq.

President Bush says Monday will be a "moment of truth for the world," when international officials will decide if diplomacy can work in the Iraq crisis. But whether or not the U.N. decides to pass a new resolution on the Gulf country, the president is expected to issue an ultimatum - a final demand - to Iraq this week.

On Sunday, the president met with leaders from Britain and Spain at an emergency summit in the Azores - a group of islands off the coast of Portugal. The three heads of state insisted their meeting was not a council of war. But they repeated their belief that time is running out for Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

Bush said, "Many nations have voiced a commitment to peace and security, and now they must demonstrate that commitment to peace in security in the only effective way: by supporting the immediate and unconditional disarmament of Saddam Hussein."

The U.S., Britain, and Spain introduced a new resolution on Iraq to the U.N. Security Council on February 24. It declares that Iraq has not complied with Resolution 1441, which the council passed unanimously last year.

SPECIAL REPORT •  War Tracker •  On the Scene Map •  Commanders: U.S. | Iraq •  Weapons: 3D Models •  Coalition casualties | POW/MIA •  Special Report RESOURCES • CNN.com: Bush: Monday is 'a moment of truth' on Iraq  • CNN.com: Allies prepare for Azores summit  • CNN.com: The Azores: An isolated crossroads  • CNN.com: Special: Showdown Iraq  • Interactive: Security Council positions   • TIME.com: Tony Karon: "Why Bush Struggles To Win U.N. Backing"  • Holt, Rinehart and Winston: Conflict in the Persian Gulf

The new resolution could trigger war against Baghdad. But France has threatened to veto the measure, and President Bush, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, and British Prime Minister Tony Blair expressed their frustration with France for that reason.

The British leader spoke out against France's threat, calling for unity in the U.N.'s stance on the Gulf nation. "The truth is that without a credible ultimatum authorizing force" if Iraq does not disarm, "more discussion is just more delay," he said Sunday.

France is among countries calling for weapons inspectors in Iraq to have more time to search the country for illegal arms. The U.S. and Britain say it is already clear that Iraq has not fully cooperated with the weapons inspectors.

Bush, Blair, and Aznar have insisted that Resolution 1441 has given them the legal authority to use force against Iraq, though France says the use of force in Iraq without passage of a new resolution would be illegal.

Once again, Blair repeated his support for President Bush in whatever course of action Bush takes. "I believe that Europe and America should stand together on the big issues of the day. I think it is a tragedy when we don't," he said.

The three leaders pledged to continue working for international support for their new resolution at the U.N. But they did not say whether they would call for a vote on the new measure on Monday if they did not think they had enough support for it to pass.

President Bush said, "[Monday] is the day that we will determine whether or not diplomacy can work." His statement implies that Monday will be the last day the U.S., Britain, and Spain will try to gather support at the U.N. If they are unable to push through the new resolution, it is possible the three countries will act against Iraq without the U.N.'s approval.

The three leaders said they came to the Azores to give peace and diplomacy regarding Iraq one more chance. But unless there are significant developments at the U.N. on Monday, they made it clear that military consequences could be imminent for the Gulf nation.