The diplomatic process finally collapsed yesterday.

Flanked by his American and Spanish counterparts, Sir Jeremy Greenstock, Britain's ambassador to the United Nations, announced that the three powers would not seek a vote on a draft resolution giving Saddam Hussein an ultimatum to disarm and "reserve their right to take their own steps to secure the disarmament of Iraq".

He said: "One country in particular has underlined its intention to veto any ultimatum 'no matter what the circumstances'. That country rejected our proposed compromise before even the Iraqi government itself."

The French delegation reacted with outrage to the accusation.

"Eleven countries rejected their proposal, not one," a French diplomat said.

"This strategy to shoot at France is strange because in three days or a month we will all need each other again."

Kofi Annan, the United Nations secretary general told the security council that he had ordered all UN staff, including the inspectors, out of Iraq.

"Obviously the members of the Council who had hoped...that it ought to be possible to disarm Iraq peacefully and had hoped to be able to come up with a common position are today disappointed and frustrated," he said.

"We seem to be at the end of the road here."

Tunisia's foreign minister arrived in Baghdad yesterday in a last-minute bid to find peace. He brought a message from the country's president "that could lead to a peaceful solution".