London: With a diplomatic consensus in the UN Security Council to resolve the Iraq standoff eluding, British Prime Minister Tony Blair has held an emergency 'war Cabinet' meeting to review the military's readiness, which also gave the UN time till March 17 to choose between war and peace.

The Cabinet held on March 15 ahead of the crucial Azores summit to be attended by US President George W Bush, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar and Blair, also discussed final plans for military action against Iraq.

The UN was given time until March 17 evening to come to a final choice on whether to back a second resolution or see America and Britain launch military action against Iraq.

If Britain and the US fail to muster the required nine votes to pass the resolution in their favour in the Council, they are expected to dump plans to put it to vote and announce that Saddam is in "material breach" of the UN resolution 1441 passed last November and go ahead with war, sources said.

It is expected that an air bombing campaign followed by a massive ground offensive would start within a few days, they said.

Blair is also planning to hold an emergency meeting of the full Cabinet early this week and announce a vote in the House of Commons, probably on March 18, if the UN route is exhausted by March 17 night.

Downing Street is also braced for the resignation of Robin Cook, Leader of the House of Commons, by March 18 night if the second resolution fails, but officials said they hoped to keep Clare Short, the International Development Secretary, in the Cabinet, the 'Sunday Observer' said.

PTI