Bush said he couldn't take risks with American security

In a news conference at the White House, Mr Bush said it was time for Council members to "show their cards - and to let the world know where they stand when it comes to Saddam".

The president was speaking at his first full news conference since November, ahead of a crucial report by the chief United Nations weapons inspectors on Friday.

Refusing to use force to disarm Iraq would present an unacceptable risk, he said.

Before the news conference, President Bush called his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to be told Moscow preferred the diplomatic route, the Kremlin says.

'Final stages'

Mr Bush accused the Iraqi Government of engaging in a "wilful charade" over disarmament.

He gave no new evidence to support his case for a new UN resolution paving the way for war on Iraq.

These are not the actions of a regime that is disarming, these are the actions of a regime engaged in a wilful charade President Bush

Mr Bush said the UN weapons inspectors did not need more time, nor more personnel. All they needed was the full co-operation of the Iraqi regime.

Asked whether he was close to deciding on using force against Iraq, Mr Bush said the US was still in the final stages of diplomacy.

He accused Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein of continuing to hide weapons of mass destruction and building more. He also said Iraq provided funding and training and safe havens for terrorists.

They [Mr Bush's administration] are rushing to war without adequate concern for the ramifications of doing so unilaterally or with a very small coalition of nations Tom Daschle Democrat leader in the US Senate US electorate split

He added he would be "fine" with a decision by President Saddam Hussein to go into exile to avert war as long as Iraq was then disarmed.

The BBC's Justin Webb, in Washington, says Mr Bush's case will almost certainly play powerfully with the American people - even though the nation is not politically united on the case for action.

Senior Democrats are continuing to question the need for what one called "the wrong war at the wrong time".

In other developments:

• US Secretary of State Colin Powell is meeting several foreign ministers ahead of the Security Council meeting, including Russia's Igor Ivanov. Mr Powell discussed changes in the text of a UN Security Council resolution on Iraq with foreign ministers of major European countries on Thursday

• UN observers say they have found three large gaps in the fence on the Iraq-Kuwait border which may be used in a military advance against Iraq.

Deadline

Mr Bush's remarks come hours before chief weapons inspector Hans Blix is due to present his latest report on Iraqi disarmament to the UN Security Council.

Britain has said it is ready to amend the wording of a proposed second resolution, so that it would be more acceptable to undecided Council members.

HOW THEY MIGHT VOTE Country-by-country voting intentions Analysis: Can Blix heal UN split?

Iraq could be offered a fresh deadline to disarm in the amended version, UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw suggested on Thursday.

But Mr Straw told BBC News that any more time given to Iraq would be "days and not months".

The US has indicated room for modification on a new UN resolution, which it is sponsoring with the UK and Spain, saying it was not "written in stone".

The Council remains deeply divided about how best to disarm Iraq.

China has said it backs other states who have threatened to block any resolution paving the way for war.

However, Beijing has not said whether it will use its power of veto in a vote on a second resolution.

France, Germany and Russia are demanding that the weapons inspectors get more time in Iraq, saying war must be avoided.

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Thursday he would be prepared to go to war even if more than one country vetoed a second UN resolution.