Washington: The United States on March 11 said any suggestion to extend the March 17
deadline for Iraq to disarm or face war was "a non starter" and insisted that the
crucial United Nation Security Council vote on the issue will "take place this week".
"The US President George W Bush has said there is room for a little more diplomacy,
but not a lot of time to do it," White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said,
rejecting the pushing back of the deadline by 30 to 45 days, as proposed by some
members of the Security Council.
"The vote will take place this week," he said.
"The moment will come this week…for members of the United Nations Security Council
to raise their hand and to take a stand on the immediate disarmament of Saddam
Hussein," he said.
He reiterated at his daily press briefing that the US President regards Iraqi
President Saddam Hussein, armed with weapons of mass destruction, as a threat to the
United States, its forces in the region and neighbours.
Bush has said, he pointed out, that one way or another Saddam Hussein will be
disarmed.
Meanwhile, Bush met with Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff General Richard Myers on March 11.
He said this is part of the regular briefing the President receives from Cabinet
Ministers.
PTI
