Opening a special parliamentary debate on the UN Security Council resolution, the assembly's speaker Saadun Hammadi said the document was unacceptable and a violation of Iraq's sovereignty.

The committee advises ... the rejection of Security Council Resolution 1441 and not to agree to it, in response to the opinions of our people, who put their trust in us

Salim al-Koubaisi Head of Iraqi foreign relations committee

In another defiant speech, Salim al-Koubaisi, head of the Iraqi parliament's foreign relations committee, said the committee "advises ... the rejection of Security Council Resolution 1441".

The BBC's Caroline Hawley in Baghdad says the strong condemnation of the UN resolution was surprising, as it had been assumed that parliament would reluctantly accept it.

US President George Bush warned Iraq on Monday that it would face the full might of the US military if it defied the resolution, which gives UN arms inspectors sweeping new rights.

President Bush told war veterans in Washington that if the United Nations failed in the "urgent task" of disarming Iraq "I will commit the full force and might of the United States military and we will prevail".

Rubber stamp parliament

Iraq has until Friday to agree to the resolution, which says Baghdad must allow unhindered access to suspected weapon sites or face "serious consequences".

Saddam Hussein will fully disarm and prove that he has done so or America will lead a coalition to disarm him - this is an urgent task for America and the world

President Bush

But Mr Hammadi said it was "full of lies" and "paves the way for aggression rather than for peace".

"The ill intentions in this resolution are flagrant and loud in ignoring all the work that has been achieved in past years," he said.

The session - shown live on Iraqi satellite television - will continue on Tuesday morning, Mr Hammadi told reporters.

Condoleezza Rice said Iraq would be subject to "zero tolerance"

He said deputies would vote on a motion to reject the UN text and leave the final decision to President Saddam Hussein. But he did not say if voting would take place on Tuesday.

Members of the Iraqi parliament are carefully vetted and can only make recommendations - the power to make decisions rests with Saddam Hussein and his close aides.

Parliament has already signalled its full backing for whatever measures President Saddam deems necessary.

US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice dismissed the Iraqi parliamentary condemnation on Monday, saying Washington would wait to hear from the Iraqi Government officially.

Next steps

Iraq must confirm whether it will "comply fully" with the resolution by Friday Iraq then has 30 days to reveal all programmes, plants and materials which could be used for weapons production Inspectors must be allowed to resume checks within 45 days of resolution being passed Thereafter, inspectors have 60 days to report back to the Security Council but may report violations earlier Click here for the timetable

"But let's be very clear: They don't have the right to accept or reject this resolution," she added.

War plan

Reports in the US media say President Bush has approved a war plan involving up to a quarter of a million troops.

Ms Rice has said Iraq will be subject to "zero tolerance" on arms inspections and Washington will not allow "another game of cat and mouse".

An emergency meeting of the Arab League held over the weekend welcomed the UN resolution, and signalled that Iraq should accept the demands.

But the Arab ministers also made clear they remained totally opposed to an attack on Iraq. This, they said, would be a threat to all Arab countries.