Defence Secretary William Cohen is briefing the president at Camp David, in Maryland, about his recent talks in the Gulf and Europe. Mr Clinton is also being briefed by his National Security Adviser, Sandy Berger.

Richard Downes: Iraq shows no sign of backing down

US officials say the Iraqi action is unacceptable, and all options for retaliation remain open.

Meanwhile, the Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal, has urged Iraq to resume co-operation with the United Nations in the present crisis over weapons inspections. Asked about the possibility of a military strike against Iraq, Prince Saud said Riyadh preferred a diplomatic solution.

The first group of 15 UN weapons monitors left Iraq on Saturday.

Unscom, the UN special commission overseeing disarmament, said a further 15 are to follow within the next few days.

US Defence Secretary William Cohen has been touring the region

An Unscom spokeswoman said this was an administrative and logistical decision because the inspectors' work had been stopped.

Senior officials from the United States, Britain and France met in Paris on Saturday to discuss their response to Baghdad's action.

Speaking before a visit to the Gulf states of Kuwait and Bahrain, Britain's Defence Secretary, George Robertson, said that military action against Iraq was not the preferred option.

Iraq 'wants peaceful solution'

Iraq says it wants a peaceful solution to the crisis with the UN, but says it is ready for a military confrontation if necessary.

Richard Downes in Baghdad: "No indication whether this is a prelude to full withdrawal."

The official newspaper, Ath-Thawra, in a commentary on Friday, accused the United States of using the language of menace.

It said that Iraq was merely claiming its legitimate rights, and was encouraging efforts to resolve the conflict.

Iraqis have been hit hard by international sanctions

The statement was the first Iraqi response to the decision by the Security Council to adopt a new resolution condemning Baghdad's decision to stop co-operating with UN weapons inspectors.

The resolution stopped short of threatening military action, but did not set a timetable for lifting sanctions - a condition Iraq has demanded for any reversal of its decision to cut all dealings with the inspectors.

The council condemned Iraq's decision to halt co-operation as a "flagrant violation" of UN resolutions.

The inspectors are trying to establish whether Baghdad has a stockpile of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.

Council divisions

The council is united in its call for an immediate U-turn from Iraq, but it remains divided on what to do if Baghdad refuses. It made no explicit threats to use force if Baghdad did not comply.

The United States and Britain say they are already authorised to take military action from previous resolutions, but that has been rejected by other council members.

Acting US ambassador Peter Burleigh said President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright had emphasised that ''all options are on the table and the US has the authority to act".