Gulf War II: Iraq 2003
Azores Summit
After
failing to win five of the six undecided votes needed for approval
of the draft resolution, US President George Bush, British Prime Minister
Tony Blair, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar and Portugal's Prime
Minister Jose Durao Barroso held
talks in the Azores on 16 March to discuss how best to get Iraq to
disarm as required by the United Nations. None of the uncommitted nations
was invited to the summit. The leaders of four countries gave the UN until
the end of 17 March to authorise the use of force against Iraq or they
would do so on their own.
'Diplomacy failed'
On 17 March the UK, the US and Spain declared
that they would not pursue a vote on a draft resolution and that they
reserved the right to take their own steps to secure Iraqs disarmament.
On 17 March 2003 United States President George W. Bush
gave Saddam Hussein an ultimatum.
Either Saddam Hussein and his sons left Iraq within 48 hours or the United
States would pursue military action against Iraq. Saddam Hussein flatly
rejected US ultimatum.
The ultimatum expired on 20 March and the military operation
began. MORE
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