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The U.S. President George Bush has set the clock ticking on a war with Iraq giving Saddam Hussein 48 hours to leave his country or face the consequences. In a grim, 13-minute internationally televised address President Bush appealed to members of the Iraqi military to lay down their arms and allow U.S.-led forces to enter the country peacefully. Mr Bush argued that the US had tried to work with the United Nations, and accused the UN of not living up to its responsibilities in disarming Iraq. Our correspondent Steve Mort joins us now. LIVE
American military strategist Harlan Ullman has written the book Shock and Awe which is reported to have influenced Pentagon strategy. I asked him when the first US attacks on Iraq are likely to take place. PREREC
National and ACT have called on the Government to support the "coalition of the willing" against Iraq. Parliament this afternoon held its first formal debate on the Iraq crisis. Our political reporter Julian Robins filed this report. [illegible]
BUSINESS with TODD NIALL
Three petroleum companies have cut the cost of petrol and diesel.
Shell and BP have lowered their prices by three cents a litre and Caltex says it has started moving prices, to around the same mark.
The cut comes after crude prices overseas went down by six dollars a barrel. I asked BP's managing director Peter Griffiths about the timing of the price drops. PREREC
A coroner's report into the death of a man after undergoing traditional Samoan tattooing recommends changes to improve the safety of equipment used. The man died in Manukau, south of Auckland, but its local City Council is making traditional tattooists exempt from needing a licence because of cultural significance, unlike standard tattooists. Sally Wenley reports. PKGE
5.30 NEWS HEADLINES
SPORT with ELMA MAUA
Returning to our lead story now and the Iraq crisis. U.S. President Bush has abandoned diplomatic attempts to force Iraq to give up its weapons of mass destruction, giving the Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and his sons 48 hours to leave their country or face war.
In an internationally broadcast television address, Mr Bush says the US tried to work with the United Nations, and has accused the UN of not living up to its responsibilities in disarming Iraq. Meanwhile Australia has today committed its troops to fight with the United States. The Prime Minister John Howard announced that the Australian forces already deployed in the Gulf region would be part of any US led operation that might take place. CUT
Mr Howard says he will table the legal advice provided to the Australian Government in parliament. CUT
Joining us now is our correspondent in Canberra Kerry Anne Walsh. LIVE
Bars, restaurants and cafes will be required to go totally smokefree, under changes made to a bill before Parliament. The Health select committee has reported back on the Smokefree Environments Amendment bill. The committee's chairwoman, the Labour MP Steve Chadwick, joins me now. LIVE
A public hearing in Wellington has received calls for better protection for people exposed to hazardous chemicals in the workplace. The calls came on Day One of public hearings at a ministerial inquiry into the better management of such substances. Eric Frykberg was at the inquiry. PKGE
Residents of the Northland seaside community of Waipu are angry over plans to expand the local sawmill, with nearly two hundred people attending a public meeting to discuss the proposal. The small town south of Whangarei has seen steady growth, based on its reputation for rural peace and prosperity; its Scots heritage and popular beaches. But it's now coming face-to-face with Northland's other growth industry: forestry. Lois Williams reports: PKGE
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