Iraq put itself on a war footing on Saturday while President Bush braced the American people for military action on the eve of a crisis summit with close allies Britain and Spain. As Bush spoke of his readiness to "confront a growing danger" in Iraq, Baghdad also invited the top U.N. weapons inspectors to visit as soon as possible to discuss outstanding disarmament issues.

Weapons inspector Hans Blix said he would discuss the invitation with his colleague, Mohamed ElBaradei, over the weekend. A U.N. spokeswoman in Vienna said the inspectors would consult the Security Council on Monday about the invitation.

The inspectors are due to give the Security Council a report on what Iraq must due to meet disarmament demands, and France, Germany, Russia, which oppose the U.S.-led movement toward war, called for foreign ministers to convene a meeting of the council on Tuesday.

The French Foreign Ministry said in a statement nothing justified the use of force at this stage and now was not the moment to end U.N. weapons inspections in Iraq.

Iraq Divided Into Four Military Zones

In Baghdad, the Revolutionary Command Council issued a decree that divided Iraq into four military districts under President Saddam Hussein "to take the necessary steps to repulse and destroy any foreign aggression," according to the state news agency INA.

Saddam's son Qusay was put in charge of Baghdad and some other central areas.

Worldwide Anti-war Protests

In cities across the world, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets in what many saw as a last-ditch global protest against any U.S.-led war on Iraq.

The protests ranged from pigeons being released into the skies over Bangkok as symbols of peace to the burning of effigies of Bush in Calcutta and the Gaza Strip.

Tens of thousands protested in Washington, surrounding the White House. The president was not at home.

Bush Says There's Little Hope Saddam Would Disarm

Bush, who will meet British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar on the Azores islands on Sunday after efforts to win new U.N. backing for war on Iraq floundered, said there was little hope Saddam would disarm.
"Crucial days lie ahead for the free nations of the world," Bush said in his weekly radio address.

The tone of comments from Britain, where Blair has been desperate for a clear U.N. mandate for any war to placate opponents in his Labor Party and country, was equally heavy.

A spokesman said Blair was still working hard on diplomacy -- but Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said war now looked "much more probable" and a minister said it may only be days away.

Once diplomacy is exhausted, officials said, Bush would address the nation, issuing a final ultimatum to Saddam and giving aid workers and others time to leave Iraq.

Negotiations at the UN Appear to be All But Over

Diplomats at the United Nations said negotiations appeared to be all but over after Washington swiftly rejected a proposal by Chile to break the impasse over a second resolution.

France, Russia and Germany, however, suggested in a joint statement that there could still be compromise on time limits for the inspectors to disarm Iraq.

Other Key Developments Concerning Iraq

*_In Washington, aides said Bush had signed off on plans for an "Iraqi Interim Authority" that could quickly take over certain government functions if Saddam was removed from power.

*_In Baghdad, thousands took part in government-organized marches to show their support for Saddam, chanting: "Bush, Bush, listen well; We all love Saddam Hussein!"

*_France, Russia and Germany called for the U.N. Security Council to set a timetable for Saddam Hussein to disarm but issued a strong statement Saturday rejecting a war on Iraq. That statement came a day before President Bush and top U.S. allies who back military action meet in the Azores Islands.

*_ United Nations weapons inspectors oversaw the destruction of three more Al Samoud 2 missiles and a launcher at al-Taji site 12 miles north of Baghdad on Saturday, U.N. spokesman Hiro Ueki said. The inspectors visited Al-Qa' Qa' complex which produces chemical and explosives, 15 miles south of Baghdad in addition to a medicine warehouse.

*_ In the Middle East, preparations for war continued. Eight U.S. warships crossed the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal into the Red Sea Saturday to join the military buildup in the Middle East region, following five ships that passed through Friday.

*_ In Vatican City, Pope John Paul II met with a peace envoy he sent to Washington to urge the Bush administration to avoid a war against Iraq. Cardinal Pio Laghi conveyed to President Bush on March 5 the pope's message that war would be a "defeat for humanity

PHOTO CAPTION

U.S. Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson speaks to a crowd of several thousand rain-soaked antiwar protesters, saying the United States should seek 'coalition over co-annihilation,' during a rally against the possibility of war on Iraq, on the streets of downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, March 15, 2003. The rally coincided with marches in San Francisco, Washington and other U.S. cities. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) - Mar 15