US President George W. Bush turns his attention on Friday to the United Nations after the Senate joined the House of Representatives in strong votes authorising a possible US attack on Iraq. The Republican-led House and Democratic-led Senate by wide margins approved the resolution that Bush wanted to reinforce his demand that the UN Security Council threaten the use of force, if necessary, to enforce its requirements that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein abandon programmes for biological, chemical or nuclear weapons. ‘US TO INSTALL MILITARY GOVT IF SADDAM IS TOPPLED’ New York: The White House is developing a plan to install an American-led military government in Iraq if the US topples Saddam Hussein, the New York Times reported on Friday, citing senior administration officials. The plan also calls for war-crime trials of Iraqi leaders and a transition to an elected civilian government that could take months or years, the daily said. In the initial phase, Iraq would be governed by a US military commander, perhaps Gen. Tommy Franks, commander of US Persian Gulf forces. — Reuters ‘‘The Congress has spoken clearly to the international community and the United Nations Security Council,’’ Bush said in a statement issued after the early-hours vote. ‘‘Saddam Hussein and his outlaw regime pose a grave threat to the region, the world, and the US. Inaction is not an option, disarmament is a must,’’ Bush said. The House earlier on Thursday passed it 296-133 after three days of debate. Under intense pressure from the White House which wanted a big bipartisan majority in Congress to strengthen its hand in its confrontation with Iraq , the Democratic-led Senate passed the war powers resolution 77-23. The Senate vote that capped a week of debate came after lawmakers explained the votes they intended to cast that could lead to war. Meanwhile, Western warplanes bombed targets in southern Iraq on Friday, the US Central Command said from its headquarters in Tampa, Florida said. But an Iraqi Air Defence spokesman said US and British planes bombed “civilian installations” in Nassireyah province in southeast Iraq. The US statement said damage from the raid was being assessed. (Reuters)
