The prime minister last night signalled that he is prepared to join the US in war even if France and Russia veto a second resolution.

His remarks, made in an interview with MTV, came ahead of today's report by chief weapons inspector Hans Blix.

Jack Straw last night made an 11th hour appeal to the UN - although today's Independent says the foreign secretary was met with "a wall of scepticism".

The move came as London and Washington attempted to win over doubting nations ahead of a vote next week.

President Bush used a live televised press conference to dismiss the idea that weapons inspections should continue.

"A little bit more time? Saddam Hussein had 12 years to disarm," he said.

The Times reports that Blix will today say that Iraq has not destroyed huge stocks of anthrax and may well have relaunched banned weapons programmes.

At home, Muslim leaders last night rejected a government bid to win their support for a war against Iraq.

The Muslim Association of Britain said the case for conflict had not been made despite ministers' "best and most sincere attempts".