Bush remains on path to war despite protests

President George Bush shrugged off the massive global peace protests yesterday and vowed to continue pushing America's allies to accept that Iraq should be punished by war for failing to disarm.

The President spoke at the White House as American and British diplomats were scrambling to craft a United Nations resolution on Iraq that might be submitted to the Security Council as early as this afternoon. The text, which is certain to face stiff opposition, would try to open the path to war.

"Democracy is a beautiful thing, and that people are allowed to express their opinion," Mr Bush joked. But he signalled that he would not be swayed by the scale of the peace marches, which brought six million people on to the streets of cities around the world, from Chicago to London and to Cape Town.

"Size of protest, it's like deciding, 'Well, I'm going to decide policy based upon a focus group'," he said. "The role of a leader is to decide policy based upon the security, in this case the security of the people. Some in the world don't view Saddam Hussein as a risk to peace. I respectfully disagree."

Mr Bush continued to insist he had not yet made a decision on going to war, saying it remained a final resort, but adding: "The risk of doing nothing is an even worse option as far as I'm concerned.'"

Although many diplomats believe the Security Council may agree to a new ultimatum and a deadline for Iraq to comply, the President seemed to pour cold water on the idea, saying he was in no mood to give President Saddam "another, another, another last chance". He said: "He knows my feelings, and that is, he needs to disarm, completely and totally disarm. He's a fellow that likes to buy time and buy it through deception and delay."

The White House appeared defensive after the weekend protests, although Ari Fleischer, the President's spokesman, said they would not be enough to deflect the US on Iraq. "This is not the first time there have been mass protests and in a previous instance America stood on principle ... and as a result the Berlin Wall came down," he said.

He also pointed out that President Franklin Roosevelt overcame protests from isolationists to lead American into the Second World War. "Often the message of protesters is contradicted by history."

President Bush appeared to be yielding to the British view on the need for a second UN resolution. "We are working with our friends and allies right now on how best to get a second resolution through the United Nations," he said. He added: "It is not necessary as far as I am concerned." Polls show a majority of Americans want a resolution before starting a war.