George Robertson MP: Saddam's actions are unacceptable. He must now comply or face consequences

Mr Cook intends to make it plain that the UK will not hesitate to use force if other means of persuading President Saddam Hussein fail.

Britain still has a Tornado aircraft fleet stationed in the Gulf.

Saddam Hussein: Creating a stand-off again

The foreign secretary will tell MPs experience has shown the threat of air strikes has succeeded in the past where diplomacy alone has failed.

Iraq suspended the work of the United Nations weapons inspectors operating in the country on Saturday.

Their presence has previously provoked stand-offs between the United States, backed by the UK, and Iraq.

The inspectors are intended to ensure President Hussein is complying with the ceasefire terms laid down after the 1991 Gulf War.

Iraqi women protesting about hardship caused by sanctions

But Baghdad has repeatedly claimed the team's composition is US-dominated and accused its members of being spies.

President Hussein took the latest action after the UN Security Council decided to review compliance with UN resolutions without guaranteeing this would lead to sanctions against Iraq being lifted.

The Security Council has since demanded that Iraq reverse the ban and resume co-operation with the inspectors - who are trying to establish whether Baghdad has a stockpile of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.

Robin Cook: To warn that the UK remains ready to carry out air strikes

The position being taken by the UK foreign secretary is again in step with America, which is not ruling out any options.

State Department Correspondent Richard Lister said: "Saddam Hussein's latest refusal to co-operate with the international weapons inspectors is completely unacceptable."

UK Defence Secretary George Robertson echoed these sentiments.

"Saddam is going to get a very clear and unanimous message from the international community that this is not acceptable and that all options are open," he told the BBC.

Mr Robertson said President Hussein was solely responsible for the sanctions that are hurting his people.

"He knows how to end the sanctions regime - he only has to comply with conditions he himself agreed at the end of the Gulf War."

But Liberal Democrats Foreign Affairs Spokesman Menzies Campbell counselled against rushing into conflict with Iraq.

"Military action against Saddam Hussein can only be justified where there are clear political objectives and should not be motivated by frustration or annoyance with him.

"The Security Council has been resolute and unanimous in its commendation of his most recent attempts to flout the authority of the UN.