WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 Kyodo U Presi...

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 Kyodo

U President George W Bush warned Thursday that he cannot wait lengthy to act against Iraq, saying efforts to disarm Iraq by means of diplomacy will end in ''weeks, not months''

Bush welcomed the idea of exile for Iraqi President Saddam Hussein as a means to peaceful unravel the confrontation with Iraq above its weapons of mass destruction.

The president ratcheted up constraining force on the Iraqi leader as he launched a excite of diplomatic activities to force Iraq to abandon weapons of mass destruction subject to the terms of the UN Security Council resolution 1441 adopted last November.

''This is a matter of weeks, not months'' he told reporters. ''For the sake of peace, this issue must be resolv Hopefully it can be done peacefully.''

Bush did not place a specific deadline and said the use of military forces is his last choice.

Bush signifyed hopes that the international community will adopt a united assurance and press the Iraqi leader to journey into exile.

''Hopefully the hurry of the free world will convince Mr Saddam Hussein to relinquish power. And should he single out to leave the geographical division along with a lot of other henchmen who have tortured the Iraqi race we would welcome that, of course,'' he said.

As part of the final diplomatic push, Bush met Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal forward Thursday, a day before his meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair at Camp David.

The Saudi minister, after talks with Bush at the White House, said they did not discuss the issue of Saddam' exile.

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said, ''The president is using this window now to engage in highly busy and active diplomacy.''

''This will take place in a period weeks, not months'' he said.

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