Prime Minister Tony Blair has warned that time is running out for Saddam Hussein to start co-operating with UN weapons inspectors and avoid action against Iraq.

Speaking at a joint press conference after talks with US President George Bush, Mr Blair said it was important that the international community came together to make it clear that the Iraqi leader's failure to disarm was unacceptable.

Mr Bush said Saddam Hussein was a danger to the world and the crisis would "come to a head in a matter of weeks, not months".

He said he would not tolerate delay over disarmament.

Saddam Hussein is not co-operating with the inspectors and is therefore in breach of the UN resolution and that's why time is running out Tony Blair

But Mr Blair reiterated that he would prefer action sanctioned by a second UN Security Council resolution.

The prime minister praised Mr Bush's leadership in the fight against the linked threats of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction.

There was no talk of deadlines as some people had predicted.

Instead, Mr Bush said that Saddam Hussein was not disarming and as a result, was a danger to the world.

Mr Blair reiterated that the UN resolution 1441 stated that Saddam Hussein had a final opportunity to disarm and that he had to co-operate fully with the weapons inspectors.

Test

He said Dr Hans Blix had told the Security Council that Saddam was not doing disarming at the moment.

"Therefore what's important is that the international community comes together and makes it absolutely clear that this is unacceptable," he said.

Action could be in 'weeks not months'

"The reason, I believe, that it will do that is precisely because in the original resolution 1441, we made it clear that failure to disarm would lead to serious consequences.

"This is a test for the international community, not just a test for the United States or for Britain.

"The judgment has to be at the present time that Saddam Hussein is not co-operating with the inspectors and is therefore in breach of the UN resolution and that's why time is running out."

Asked about the possibility of a second UN resolution on the matter, Mr Bush stressed that the crisis needed to be resolved quickly.

Authority to act

He said: "Should the United Nations decide to pass a second resolution, it will be welcomed if it is another signal that we're intent upon disarming Saddam Hussein.

"Fourteen forty one gives us the authority to move without any second resolution.

Blair wants to keep up the pressure as inspections continue

Click here for analysis on Blair's trip

"Saddam Hussein must understand that if he does not disarm, for the sake of peace, we, along with others, will disarm Saddam Hussein."

Mr Blair told the BBC on Saturday he did not believe Iraq's leader would comply with UN demands to disarm.

"It is really a question of whether people believe Saddam is likely to comply or not.

"Personally I think it is frankly obvious he is not."

He said he did not believe Mr Bush would disregard the UN in deciding on action against Iraq.

"What he is anxious to ensure, and what I am anxious to ensure, is that the whole debate about a second resolution doesn't just become a means of putting this thing off for months and months and months".

He insisted that "even now" Saddam Hussein could avoid war by co-operating fully with the weapons inspectors.

Mr Blair's brief visit to the US was designed to show the world the two leaders are standing shoulder to shoulder in their determination to disarm Saddam Hussein.

The prime minister returned on Saturday for a day of talks with South African president Thabo Mbeki at Chequers, where Iraq and Zimbabwe were expected to be high on the agenda.