BRITAIN: The British government now considers Iraq in effective breach of UN resolution 1441. This was made clear last night in response to the report of the chief weapons inspector, Mr Hans Blix, which the UK ambassador to the United Nations, Sir Jeremy Greenstock, described as "a catalogue of unresolved questions."
At the same time Sir Jeremy and 10 Downing Street confirmed that London was prepared to await one final report from Mr Blix, by February 14th, before any final decision is taken on military action.
However, the Foreign Secretary, Mr Jack Straw, fuelled expectations of near-inevitable war when he accused Saddam Hussein of making "a charade" of the UN weapons inspection process, and declared time had almost run out for the Iraqi dictator. Senior Whitehall sources, meanwhile, did nothing to dispel the belief that February 14th is now the effective deadline for total Iraqi compliance or the start of US-led action, with or without explicit UN sanction.
The Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, remained confident that UN approval would be forthcoming, while his Defence Secretary, Mr Geoff Hoon, dismissed claims in the House of Commons that Britain was now isolated in Europe in support of military action.
Despite opinion polls showing the vast majority of the British public still unconvinced of the case for war, Mr Blair will almost certainly be seen as vital to the final decision-making process at his Camp David summit with President Bush on Friday.
Nor was there any evident weakening of Mr Blair's determination that the UN must be "the means to resolve the issue, not avoid it", even as fears about possible military conflict fuelled further falls on the London stock market.
Shares fell in London yesterday for an unprecedented 11th day, with nearly £34 billion sterling (about €50 billion) wiped off the FTSE 100 index at one stage, and the index finally closing down 123 points, leaving it at its lowest level for seven years.
The "war" on international terror also sparked a domestic political row yesterday, with Mr Blair drawing fire from all sides following his suggestion that Britain might have to review its commitments under the European Convention of Human Rights due to problems over deportation orders. The Conservatives and tabloid newspapers have charged that his government is losing control of the asylum system.
The latest furore over Britain's asylum rules has been fed by the arrest of three asylum-seekers during recent anti-terror swoops and suggestions that the European Convention prevents the deportation of people who might pose a threat to public safety in the UK.
Labour MPs expressed dismay at the tone of Mr Blair's comments, although the Liberal Democrat leader, Mr Charles Kennedy, echoed the widespread suspicion that the Prime Minister had been in search of a favourable headline and offered a "knee-jerk reaction" during a Sunday television interview.
Speaking after the presentation of the Blix report, Britain's UN envoy, Sir Jeremy Greenstock, said Britain welcomed the prospect of a second report by the weapons inspectors by February 14th. At the same time he warned: "I think what we have heard is a catalogue of unresolved questions. It is quite clear that this is not going to be resolved peacefully through the UN process unless we have 100 per cent co-operation from Iraq."
Echoing Washington's immediate response to the Blix report, Mr Straw, speaking at the EU foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels, accused Saddam Hussein of "practising concealment."