US President George W. Bush on Monday evening gave Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein 48 hours to go into exile or face war, said the United States had the right to use force, and urged the Iraqi military to put down their weapons.

The following are the main points of his speech that ran just under 14 minutes.

-- "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." -- "The United States of America has the sovereign authority to use force in assuring its own national security." -- "It is too late for Saddam Hussein to remain in power, it is not too late for the Iraqi military to act with honor and protect your country by allowing the peaceful entry of coalition forces to eliminate weapons of mass destruction." -- "War crimes will be prosecuted, war criminals will be punished and it will no defense to say 'I was just following orders.'" -- "If Saddam Hussein attempts to cling to power, he will remain a deadly foe until the end. In desperation, he and terrorist groups might try to conduct terrorist operations against the American people and our friends. These attacks are not inevitable. They are, however, possible." -- "Intelligence gathered by this and other governments leaves no doubt that the Iraq regime continues to possess and conceal some of the most lethal weapons ever devised." -- "For their own safety, all foreign nationals, including journalists and inspectors, should leave Iraq immediately." -- "In recent days, American authorities have expelled from the country certain individuals with ties to Iraqi intelligence services." -- "As our coalition takes away their power, we will deliver the food and medicine you need. We will tear down the apparatus of terror and we will help you to build a new Iraq that is prosperous and free." - Sapa-AFP