Washington: Setting the course for war on Iraq without the UN backing, US President George W Bush on March 18 gave a deadline of 48 hours to Saddam Hussein and his sons to leave the country or face military action and said terrorist threat to America and the world will be diminished the moment the "tyrant" Iraqi leader is disarmed.

"Saddam Hussein and his sons must leave Iraq within 48 hours. Their refusal to do so will result in military conflict, commenced at a time of our choosing," Bush said in a 15-minute address televised worldwide directed at the American public, allies, Iraqi military and its citizens.

The deadline began at 06:30 hours IST, the time when Bush delivered the speech in which he said that UN Security Council has failed to live upto its responsibilities, "so we will rise to ours".

"Iraq will not disarm so long as Saddam Hussein holds power," he said criticising France and Russia for threatening to use veto on the resolution seeking UN approval for military action to disarm Iraq.

"Some permanent members of the Security Council have publicly announced they will veto any resolution that compels disarmament of Iraq. These governments share our assessment of the danger but not our resolve to meet it."

Bush asked all foreign nationals, including journalists and weapons inspectors to leave Iraq immediately.

PTI