British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair warned the United Nations today that its authority would be shattered forever if Iraq is not disarmed soon peacefully or by force.
Defying war-wary members of his ruling Labour Party, Mr Blair also dismissed last-minute moves by Iraqi President Saddam Hussein as phoney although he conceded that UN weapons inspectors would get more time to scour Iraq.
"If we show weakness now, if we allow the plea for more time to become just an excuse for prevarication until the moment for action passes then...the menace, and not just from Saddam will grow. The authority of the UN will be lost," Mr Blair told a Labour conference in the Scottish city of Glasgow.
That read as a clear rebuke to Russia, France, China, Germany and others who, in a dramatic Security Council showdown yesterday, demanded peace be given another chance.
In a setback for the United States and Britain, top UN arms officials held out hope that inspections were working.
A crucial report by chief inspector Mr Hans Blix, while critical of Iraq's failure to deliver information, lacked the bite of his previous assessments, allowing wavering council members to declare it was premature to wage war.
"Dr Blix reported to the UN yesterday and there will be more time given to inspections," the British prime minister told his Labour Party's conference in the Scottish city of Glasgow.
The United States and Britain have warned Saddam he faces military action unless he gives up all weapons of mass destruction - which Iraq denies having - and have massed tens of thousands of troops in the Gulf.
Mr Blair dismissed last minute moves from Saddam who, hours before the meeting yesterday, announced Iraq was adopting a law banning all weapons of mass destruction.
"To anyone familiar with Saddam's tactics of deception and evasion, there is a weary sense of deja vu," Mr Blair said in a passionate speech that focused heavily on Iraq. "The concessions are suspect. Unfortunately, the weapons are real."