Iraq crisis hour-by-hour

BBC News Online charts developments in the Iraq crisis hour-by-hour as diplomatic efforts to avert a war expire. [All times GMT and approximate.]

Tuesday, 18 March

2228: UK Parliament approves use of military force to disarm Iraq by 412 votes to 149.

2214: Anti-war amendment defeated in UK Parliament despite signs of increased rebellion against Prime Minister Tony Blair.

1821: UN reports all foreign staff to be evacuated from Baghdad have now arrived in Cyprus.



NEXT MAJOR DATES

0700 Weds 19 March: Iraqi national assembly emergency session

1500 Weds 19 March: FMs of Security Council members meet

0100 Thurs 20 March: US ultimatum to President Saddam Hussein expires

1743: White House declares US forces would enter Iraq even if Saddam Hussein obeys order to leave.

1649: US Secretary of State Colin Powell says 45 nations have signed up to the "coalition of the willing" against Iraq.

1245: The Iraqi leadership rejects the US ultimatum for President Saddam Hussein and his sons to leave the country.

1238: UK Prime Minister Tony Blair makes case for war to the House of Commons in a major debate: "I believe passionately we must hold firm to that course [of disarmament of Iraq]".

1110: Home Office minister John Denham becomes third MP to quit the UK Government over Iraq.

1108: The Vatican warns that those who go to war with Iraq "assume a grave responsibility before God, their conscience and history".

1030: French President Jacques Chirac denounces impending US invasion as bound to undermine future efforts at peaceful disarmament.

0900: German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder says there is no justification for war against Iraq and no reason to end the weapons inspections.

0855: Departing UN weapons inspectors arrive in Cyprus.

0723: Health minister Lord Hunt becomes second UK minister to resign over Iraq.

0500: France says President Bush's ultimatum to Saddam Hussein is "contrary to the will of the UN Security Council".

0122: US increases terrorism alert to orange, the second highest level.

0100: President Bush delivers live television address. He says "Saddam Hussein and his sons must leave Iraq within 48 hours. Their refusal to do so will result in military conflict, commenced at time of our choosing."







Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/middle_east/2859297.stm

Published: 2003/03/18 22:32:38

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