The United States, joined by key allies Britain and Spain, proposed delivering an ultimatum to Saddam Hussein: give up banned weapons by March 17 or face war.

But a powerful bloc of nations stood firm Friday against any new resolution that would authorize military action.

With 250,000 allied troops poised to attack Iraq and the White House warning that time for diplomacy is running out, the 15-nation U.N. Security Council emerged even more polarized after Friday's high-stakes council meeting.

Secretary of State Colin Powell told reporters the council would vote next week on the latest proposal, an amended U.S.-British-Spanish resolution that paves the way for war.

French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin rejected the idea of a deadline and came with his own plan: a summit at the U.N. Security Council with heads of state deciding the course of war and peace.

But Powell dismissed the idea, saying he saw no need for one when key powers have been expressing their views "openly and candidly."

With American forces preparing to attack Iraq in what could be just a matter of days, some of the most outspoken opposition to war is coming from the Illinois Delegation in Congress.

The Illinois delegation includes strong backers of President Bush's get-tough policy on Saddam Hussein, notably U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, whose district includes a slice of the southwest suburbs. He's had his hands full trying to convince Congressional skeptics that the risk of removing Hussein by force is worth the cost, notably anti-war Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Evanston.

"I think it's not too late to stop the war...not too late for President Bush to declare victory...to say that the inspections are yielding important results," Schakowsky said.

She's an anti-war leader on Capitol Hill who plans to host the Democratic House Minority Leader next Monday.

Another Illinoisan is a national leader on Iraq policy. U.S. House Speaker Denny Hastert was stumping in Ohio today, speaking out in support of President Bush's get-tough policy on Saddam Hussein.

"He's a direct threat to the United States of America, with a nexus to Al Qaeda and that's a proven fact," Hastert said.

With about 300,000 American soldiers deployed to the Middle East and more departing everyday, many observers believe President Bush has already decided to go to war.

It's a war that North Side Congressman Rahm Emanuel hopes could bring some benefits, but he faults the President for failing to build a big enough coalition.

On the day after the President's news conference, Congressional Republicans issued statements supporting the Bush policy.

Judy Biggert from Hinsdale and Phil Crane, the veteran congressman from the northwest suburbs, say they remain strongly supportive of U.S. efforts to disarm Iraq and that nothing last night or today has changed their support.