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British Prime Minister Tony Blair says the time is not yet right for military action against Iraq, but he says the world would be a safer place without Saddam Hussein. 

Speaking in parliament, Mr. Blair said Iraq's development of weapons of mass destruction poses a severe threat not just to the Middle East, but to the world. 

He said doing nothing is not an option, while stressing that Britain would not be rushed into a new offensive. 

Mr. Blair says Britain's method of dealing with the threat posed by Iraq will be a matter for parliament's deliberation and consultation. But nearly 150 members of parliament have signed a motion expressing their "deep unease" about possible military action against Baghdad. 

On Monday, the British leader sent his strongest signal yet that he would back U.S. military action against President Sadism. Mr. Blair said the Iraqi regime is "detestable and brutal." He called on Baghdad to give international weapons inspectors unlimited access to suspected Iraq weapons facilities or face the consequences. 

Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.

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