Washington: United States President George W Bush has said it is a "defining moment for the Security Council" and if the Council does not disarm Saddam Hussein, the US will do so along with its allies.

"The UN Security Council resolution 1441 requires Saddam Hussein to completely disarm," Bush told the media on February 7 adding, but "Saddam has not disarmed".

He said Secretary of State Colin Powell has made that case very clear. "And now the members of the Security Council can decide whether or not that resolution will have any force, whether it means anything."

"If the Security Council were to allow a dictator to lie and deceive, the Security Council would be weakened," the President said.

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Asked whether he really sees any means of disarming Saddam other than at this point, using force, Bush said, "It is up to Saddam Hussein.

"Saddam's record is poor at best. The man has been told to disarm for 12 long years. He has ignored the demands of the free world. Saddam has played a game with the inspectors."

So the Security Council has got to make up its mind soon as to whether or not its word means anything. Saddam has "treated the demands of the world as a joke up to now, and it was his choice to make. He is the person who gets to decide war and peace," Bush said.

Asked what happens if the Security Council does not go along with the US, Bush replied, "I have said that if Saddam Hussein does not disarm, we will lead a coalition to disarm him."

PTI