Sky News
Iraq has the potential to build a working nuclear bomb within a year, a leading think-tank has warned.Saddam Hussein's government would have to buy or steal radioactive material from overseas but could then develop devastating weapons, the International Institute for Strategic Studies said.
But some observers said the evidence was not new and did not justify an attack on Iraq.
Missile
John Chipman, director of the London-based institute, said it could soon be possible for Iraq to launch a nuclear strike on Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Israel, Turkey, Jordan or Iran.
Mr Chipman said: "Were he able to obtain fissile material from abroad, steal it or buy it in some way, we certainly believe he has the ability to put together a nuclear weapon very quickly in a matter of months.
"They were always aiming to be able to arm their ballistic missiles with a nuclear weapon so it would be just a question of working on the physics for a number of months, maybe a year, to be able to marry the warhead to a ballistic missile,"
The London-based IISS also says Iraq has stockpiled "thousands of litres of anthrax".
But Saddam only possesses a limited and uncertain capacity to deliver them, the report concludes.
Ultimatum
The British Government is due to publish within the next few weeks a file of evidence against Saddam which Downing Street claims will prove the need for swift action.
It comes as Tony Blair and George W Bush lay down a final ultimatum for Saddam: comply with the UN or face attack.
The pair, who met for talks at Camp David near Washington at the weekend, want UN weapons inspectors allowed in with unlimited access.
Mr Blair is expected to outline his position in a speech to the TUC on Tuesday as efforts to build an international consensus continue.
