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US P
resident 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