US Secretary of State Colin Powell has said Iraq President Saddam Hussein should not be allowed to split the international community into 'arguing factions'.

"Iraq's 'too little too late' gestures are meant not just to deceive and delay action by the international community," Powell told a foreign policy group in Washington.

He said Saddam had let go of the 'one last chance' to avoid the 'serious consequences' the UN Security Council had threatened if Iraq failed to disarm.

The only real issue left was whether Saddam had decided to give up 'these horrible weapons of mass destruction', he said.

Powell's speech to the Centre for Strategic and International Studies was hastily arranged, as a diplomatic battle raged over a new US-Britain-Spain sponsored Security Council resolution on Iraq.

The speech also came two days ahead of UN chief weapons inspector Hans Blix's briefing to the world body on the latest developments on Iraqi disarmament.

Earlier, the foreign ministers of France, Germany and Russia joined forces in vowing to block the US-backed resolution. France and Russia have the veto power in the Security Council.

There are divisions among us," Powell said. "If these divisions continue, they will convince Saddam Hussein that he is right. But I assure you, he is wrong."

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What do you think about the story? Read what others have to say: Number of User Comments: 9 Sub: Mr.Bush ....pls try to explain the world the meaning of dissarm Looking at the recent development in Iraq, we would say there is only some guns and pistools are left now. Mr. Bush is looking for ... Posted by azeem Sub: Who is trying to split opinion I think it is the US that is trying to split opinion about Iraq. Powell tells the world that because of the differences in opinion ... Posted by Concerned Sub: It is not easy to brain wash the world Mr. Bush it is not easy to brain wash the world like the Americans. They are eating much of the feast their media is giving ... Posted by Prasad Sub: Saddam Hussein Well as always America would like all nations to think in a single direction - War on Iraq, which in their commercial interests. Posted by Arun Sub: comments on ward War brings miseries, which George Bush or Collin Powell will not be able to absorb. We don't want war, please listen for the sake of ... Posted by cmchacko1