Paul Royall: A new crisis with Iraq is mounting

He described Iraq's decision to break off co-operation with United Nations arms inspectors as a "serious breach" of a pledge by Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to get rid of weapons of mass destruction.

"I need to be back there to talk to a number of my colleagues in the alliance and I can't do that on the plane as well as I can in Washington," Mr Cohen told reporters during a refuelling stop in the Pacific on the way to Hong Kong.

He said the change of plan did not necessarily mean military action against Iraq was imminent but added: "All of the options are still on the table."

Iraq demands the sacking of Unscom chief Butler

In New York the United Nations Security Council unanimously condemned the Iraqi move as unacceptable, saying it was a flagrant violation of UN resolutions.

After a closed-door emergency meeting in New York, Security Council members demanded Iraq rescind "immediately and unconditionally" its decision.

In Washington, US officials denounced Iraq's decision as unacceptable.

"We are reviewing all options with the president and all options remain on the table," National Security Council spokesman David Leavy said.

Iraq's announcement followed a decision on Friday by the Security Council to review its compliance with UN resolutions - but without any guarantee that this would lead to sanctions being lifted.

Possible misunderstanding

Sir Jeremy Greenstock reads the Security Council statement

Security Council President Sir Jeremy Greenstock of Britain said the Iraqi step was "particularly disappointing ... when the council made a clear offer to them to move forward with a comprehensive review".

But Iraqi ambassador to the UN, Nizar Hamdoon described the review as "not helpful" and "counterproductive".

Iraq has said it will not allow inspections to resume until the Security Council is prepared to seriously consider lifting sanctions.

BBC United Nations correspondent Rob Watson says whether Iraq had misunderstood the intention of the review or not, the real decisions on what happens next will depend on the lead taken by Washington.

Inspections at an end

UN correspondent Rob Watson: UN diplomats are unsure if Iraq is bluffing

The Iraqis have been refusing to allow inspectors to do any work in the country since early August, but correspondents say the latest move is an escalation in the continuing dispute over inspections with Iraq believing there is no stomach in the international community for a major confrontation.

Ambassador Hamdoon said the weapons inspectors might as well leave Iraq, because "they have nothing more to do in the country both on the inspections or monitoring fronts".

"They will not be given access to any of those installations from today on," he said.

Iraq also demanded the sacking of the head of the UN inspection commission (Unscom), Richard Butler.

It said the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) could continue its inspections in Iraq.