Key members of the UN Security Council have said the United States has so far failed to convince them that time has run out for a peaceful resolution to the crisis with Iraq.
At a crucial council meeting last night, one day after President George W. Bush's State of the Union address, 11 of the 15 members supported giving more time to weapons inspectors to pursue Iraq's peaceful disarmament, council diplomats said.
France, Russia and China, who all have veto power, want more time, as well as Germany, Mexico, Chile, Guinea, Cameroon, Syria, Angola and Pakistan
Only Bulgaria and Spain backed the United States and Britain in focusing on Iraq's failures rather than continued inspections.
In Washington, White House spokesman Mr Ari Fleischer said diplomacy was in its "final phase".
Secretary of State Colin Powell said the United States would try to help find a haven for Saddam Hussein, his family and close aides if he would agree to go into exile. However, State Department officials said exile for Saddam was not under serious consideration.
Saddam, in remarks televised in Iraq, said his country "has huge capabilities" and is ready to face a US attack, "destroy it and defeat it.
"When faced with an attack, we always put in our calculation the worst case scenario and we build our tactics on that," the Iraqi leader told military commanders.
AP