PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush says the days of Iraq acting as an outlaw state are coming to an end. With the Senate's vote earlier this morning, Congress has now given the president its approval for the use of force against Iraq. Suzanne Malveaux joins us now from the White House with the very latest on that vote that went in the wee hours of the morning. Good morning.</s>SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. Went until about 1:00 in the morning, as a matter of fact. The White House clearly pleased with this development. President bush getting the green light to use military force against Saddam Hussein, if necessary. Yesterday, he called House leaders Gephardt and Hastert to thank them personally. We expect he's going to be calling Senate majority leader Tom Daschle as well. The hope from the administration is this message from Congress sends a clear message to the United Nations Security Council that the president has the support and authority to use military action against Saddam Hussein, to hold him to account. Now, there are hardcore diplomacy going on already to convince some of the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, Russia, China and France to approve a military action. They have all expressed some reservations about this. But this morning, British Prime Minister Tony Blair meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin to make the case.</s>VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): We believe our partners jointly. We should undertake measures and to adopt decision to ensure the efficient operation of the U.N. inspectors on the territory of that country. With this purpose, we don't exclude a possibility of coming up to some coordinated decisions taking -- implying the possibility of adoption of a new U.N. resolution.</s>MALVEAUX: So Russia saying this morning, they may be open to a possible new U.N. resolution, but the White House also stressing that if the new resolution does not come from the United Nations Security Council, that this administration will lead its own coalition against Saddam Hussein -- Paula.</s>ZAHN: Thanks, Suzanne. Appreciate it End>
Bush Says Days of Iraq Acting as Outlaw State Coming to an End