U.N. rejection wouldn't hinder coalition, Bush says

CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico -- The White House said Saturday it would be "not very hard at all" to assemble an alliance to confront Saddam Hussein without the United Nations, a clear signal that President Bush's patience with the international organization is reaching its limits.

As France, Russia, Mexico and other allies seek to water down his zero-tolerance approach to Iraq, Bush renewed his call for the U.N. to confront Hussein or stand aside while the United States acts.

"If the U.N. does not pass a resolution which holds him to account and that has consequences, then, as I have said in speech after speech after speech, if the U.N. won't act -- if Saddam Hussein won't disarm -- we will lead a coalition to disarm him," the president said at the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.

Later, Secretary of State Colin Powell said the prospects for a tough resolution might be slipping away.

"I don't want to say that we're near a solution because it may evade us," he said. "But I think we have successfully narrowed down the differences to a few key issues. And if we can resolve these few key issues in the days ahead, then I think we might get a resolution that would be strong."

Bush spoke at the side of Mexican President Vicente Fox, who hosted the economic conference of Pacific Rim nations. Mexico does not support the hard-line resolution Bush seeks.

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