Offaly Anti-War Movement

Urging Surrender

In a televised address to the nation, Mr Bush said it was time for "decades of deceit and cruelty" to end in Iraq.

"Saddam Hussein and his sons must leave Iraq within 48 hours," Mr Bush said shortly after 0100 GMT.

"Their refusal to do so will result in military conflict, commenced at a time of our choosing."

Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri said in advance of the speech that that "any child" in Iraq knew a demand for Saddam Hussein to go into exile would fail.

More than 250,000 US troops are now stationed in the Gulf awaiting orders, along with thousands of British and Australian troops.

Early reactions to the Bush ultimatum from world leaders were generally negative.

A statement from the office of French President Jacques Chirac accused Mr Bush of taking "a unilateral decision" that was "contrary to the will of the UN Security Council".

China's new Prime Minister, Wen Jiabao, said Beijing would continue to seek a political settlement "so long as there's one glimmer of hope".

US neighbours Canada and Mexico both said they opposed military action.

Canada - which provided troops for the 1991 Gulf war - said it would not join an invasion coalition without a further UN resolution.

But Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi voiced support for Mr Bush, in what correspondents say could be a risk to his popularity at home.

'Clear danger'

In his address, Mr Bush said the US had the legal right to protect itself.

...And Son

He warned that Iraq's weapons could be used against Americans by terrorists, including members of Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.

"The danger is clear," he said in his White House speech.

"Using chemical, biological or, one day, nuclear weapons obtained with the help of Iraq, the terrorists could fulfil their stated ambitions and kill thousands or hundreds of thousands of innocent people in our country or any other," Mr Bush said.

"The United States and other nations did nothing to deserve or invite this threat, but we will do everything to defeat it.

"Instead of drifting along toward tragedy, we will set a course toward safety."

Minutes after Mr Bush finished his speech, US officials announced they had raised the terrorism alert to orange, the second-highest level.

Authorities warned of "multiple attacks" nationally and abroad in the event of a US-led war with Iraq.

Diplomatic failure

Mr Bush advised all foreign nationals, including journalists and UN weapons inspectors, to leave Iraq immediately.

Invasion would "liberate"

On Tuesday morning, weapons inspectors prepared to board planes at Baghdad airport after the UN ordered all its staff out of the country for their own safety.

Mr Bush said action had to be taken now "because the risks of inaction would be far greater".

He said he believed in the role of the United Nations and stressed that the US and other countries had tried to ensure the peaceful disarmament of Iraq since the end of the 1991 Gulf war.

"Peaceful efforts have failed again and again," he said.

On Monday, diplomacy collapsed at the UN when the US, UK and Spain withdrew a draft resolution authorising the use of force against Iraq, amid threats of a veto from France.

Referring to France and Russia, Mr Bush criticised permanent members of the UN Security Council who said they would not allow resolutions compelling Iraq to disarm.

"These governments share our assessment of the danger, but not our resolve to meet it," Mr Bush said, adding that many other countries supported US policy.

The Turkish Government has said it will urgently reconsider a US request to base troops on its soil.

The US wants to deploy about 60,000 troops in Turkey for a possible invasion of northern Iraq, to complement an expected attack from Kuwait in the south.

Appeal to Iraqis

Mr Bush also used his 13-minute address to send a message to Iraqis, stressing that any military action would be directed against the "lawless men" in power - such as Saddam Hussein and his sons, Qusay and Uday.

"As our coalition takes away their power, we will deliver the food and medicine you need," the president said.

"We will tear down the apparatus of terror and we will help you to build a new Iraq that is prosperous and free."

He promised: "The tyrant will soon be gone - the day of your liberation is near".

The US leader urged Iraqi forces not to destroy oil wells or use chemical weapons.

He said war criminals would be prosecuted and it would be no good for them to argue that they had only been following orders.