President Bush says Monday is the final day for the U.N. Security Council to act on a resolution to disarm Iraq.
President Bush -- following a summit in the Azores with the leaders of Britain, Spain and Portugal -- says Monday's deadline is what he calls "a moment of truth for the world".
Mr. Bush told a press conference that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein can leave the country if he chooses, but added that the Iraqi leader will disarm or be disarmed by force.
Mr. Bush said of France, which has veto power in the Security Council, that it would veto anything that held Saddam to account.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair said after 12 years of failing to disarm, a decision must now be made on disarming Iraq. He said he believes Europe and the United States should stand together on Iraq's disarmament, because the Iraqi people are the primary victims of the Iraqi leadership.
Spain's Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, for his part, echoed the other leaders' comments on Iraq and said the leaders agreed to increase their commitment to the Mideast peace process.
The one-day summit took place in the Portuguese islands in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and was hosted by Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Durao Barroso, who said the summit was the last chance for a political solution to the Iraqi crisis.
The three Western countries have collaborated on a draft resolution for the United Nations Security Council, giving Iraq a deadline of Monday to answer for its weapons. However, the 15 members of the Council are deeply divided on the issue, and a vote is not expected until later this week, if at all.
France, Russia and China -- all Security Council members with veto power -- say there must be more time for weapons inspectors to search for banned Iraqi weapons.
On Sunday, NATO member Belgium threatened to cut off its airspace to the U.S. military if the United States invades Iraq without U.N. approval.
In Vatican City, Pope John Paul made a strong appeal for a peaceful resolution of the crisis.