Clock Ticking on Bush's Ultimatum to Saddam Hussein
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: The clock is ticking on President Bush's ultimatum to Saddam Hussein, and the Iraqi leader and his sons now have about 33 hours to leave the country or face war. CNN White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux begins our coverage this hour. She checks in now with the very latest. Hello, Suzanne.</s>SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Leon. In the president's words, the tyrant will soon be gone. The White House reacting, Saddam Hussein and his sons' statements saying they refuse to leave the country. White House spokesman Ari Fleischer saying earlier today -- I'm quoting -- "Iraq has made a series of mistakes, including arming themselves with weapons of mass destruction that have brought this crisis upon itself. This is the latest mistake Iraq could make. It will be Saddam Hussein's final mistake." The president still hopes he will take the ultimatum seriously and leave the country. Administration officials saying they have not received any official word from Iraq yet, that that Wednesday, 8:00 in the evening Eastern Standard deadline still holds. President Bush today in a number of critical meetings, he met with his national security team this morning, also met with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. We're told by officials to go over the final details of the war planning. He's also going to be meeting with his cabinet members to talk about policy initiatives and make some phone calls as well. All of this part of trying to keep that coalition of the willing together to say, yes, indeed this ultimatum still stands to prepare the country for war. Also, Leon, we've heard and we've seen increased security around the White House. Just this morning they set up an extended perimeter outside of the White House. You may recall that after the Oklahoma City Bombing, vehicular traffic was cut off on Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House. Now, pedestrians are not allowed to walk all along the White House as well. Press as well as staff had to present their identification about a block away before going to the White House grounds -- Leon.</s>HARRIS: Good deal. Going to be a busy day there. Suzanne Malveaux, at the White House. We'll get back to you later on -- Carol.</s>COSTELLO: Iraq kept up a defiant tone today, even as the country braces for a U.S.-led military attack. CNN's senior international correspondent Nic Robertson joins us live with the latest from Baghdad. Hello, Nic.</s>NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTL. CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Carol. Well, indeed, President Saddam Hussein calling President Bush's ultimatum debased and reckless. He was meeting with the top echelons of the Revolutionary Command Council, the top leadership in the ruling Baath Party here. It was on television, and it was the first time the people of Iraq had seen President Saddam Hussein wearing his military uniform in over two years. In that meeting, he told those gathered politicians that it was a sick hope of President Bush that he could defeat Iraq without even having to fight. President Saddam Hussein saying that that was just an indication of how isolated and how defeated the United States already is. We've also heard from President Saddam Hussein's elder son, Uday Saddam Hussein, today he said that it is President Bush who should be forced out. The ultimatum should be forcing President Bush and his family out of office. Uday Saddam Hussein also saying at this time anyone who attacks Iraq will regret the day, they will lament the day they attacked Iraq. So very strong words coming this day and very strong images on Iraqi Television for the people of Iraq at this very critical time -- Carol.</s>LIN: Talking about strong images, I understand there have been demonstrations in Baghdad in support of Saddam Hussein. Can you tell us more about those?</s>ROBERTSON: Absolutely. Late this afternoon, the government organized a number of rallies, Baath Party officials, and many soldiers in uniform raising their Kalishnikovs, with two magazine clips, strapped onto the Kalishnikovs, something one only generally sees in troops that appear to be ready for some intense combat. Even in the crowd there, supporters, women in fact, waving pistols in the air. What people are saying in these government organized demonstrations is that they support President Saddam Hussein and that they don't want war. Away from these government organized rallies, however, we're seeing fewer people on the streets. We're seeing stores that are closed down. The shop fronts are boarded up. The store owners have removed their valuable goods. And what we hear from people here, Carol, is that they are extremely concerned about what's going to happen. They are frightened about the bombing. They are very concerned about what's going to happen in what could be a very unstable period. But at the same time, they are very angry that their country is going to be invaded -- Carol.</s>LIN: Nic Robertson reporting live from Baghdad today. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com