Chirac must be nuts!~ France Says World Against Bush Ultimatum on Iraq
Tue Mar 18,12:11 AM ET Add Top Stories - Reuters to My Yahoo!
PARIS (Reuters) - France said on Tuesday the world did not back President Bush (news - web sites)'s ultimatum to Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) to leave Iraq (news - web sites) within 48 hours or face military action.
The office of French President Jacques Chirac said in a statement the United Nations (news - web sites) Security Council opposed the move, and that ignoring international opinion would carry a "heavy responsibility."
"This unilateral decision is contrary to the wishes of the Security Council and of the international community, who wish to pursue the disarmament of Iraq in accordance with (U.N.) resolution 1441," the Elysee presidential palace said.
"Whatever the objective pursued, France recalls that only the Security Council has the authority to justify the use of force," it added.
"Shirking the legitimacy of the United Nations, privileging force over justice, that would be taking on a heavy responsibility," the statement said.
Chirac, who has led Western opposition to a war in Iraq, had pledged to veto any U.N. resolution giving the green light to war in Iraq.
The United States on Monday abandoned diplomatic efforts to push through a joint proposal with Britain and Spain paving the way for military action after failing to secure enough votes for the Security Council to pass the new resolution.
France wants weapons inspectors to continue their work, saying that there is evidence inspections are producing results and war should always be a last resort.
Paris backed resolution 1441, which was unanimously voted through by the Security Council last year, demanding Saddam disarm or face "serious consequences." |
