US and Russia urge Iraq disarm immediately

The United States and Russia urged Iraq today to disarm fully in accordance with a UN Security Council resolution or face "serious…

The United States and Russia urged Iraq today to disarm fully in accordance with a UN Security Council resolution or face "serious consequences".

In a statement, the countries said: "We call on Iraq, in strict compliance with UNSC resolution 1441, to co-operate fully and unconditionally in its disarmament obligations or face serious consequences".

The statement was released as US President Mr George W. Bush and Russian President Mr Vladimir Putin met to discuss Iraq. The statement puts more pressure on Iraqi President Mr Saddam Hussein to declare and disarm suspected weapons of mass destruction.