PARIS (MktNews) - A "large majority" of the UN Security Council wants to continue with inspections in Iraq, French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin said Thursday.
Contrary to claims of the U.S. Administration, France is not f!isolated in rejecting a military attack at this stage, the minister said in a radio interview. Its proposals are "well received" at the UN. Iraq remains a risk and clear answers must be forthcoming, particularly in the areas of ballistic missif!les and chemical and biological weapons, he insisted.
Nevertheless, "we are happy to see that these inspections on the ground continue to be effective," he said, noting "progress" in the search for nuclear weapons. The Security Cof!uncil resolution 1441 for disarmament in Iraq "does not include a deadline," de Villepin reminded. "As long as the inspections are progressing, we must continue."
"The day there is an impasse, the Security Council must evaluate the situatiof!n on the basis of the inspectors' report -- with a second resolution. (But) we are not at this stage (yet)." In the meantime, the inspections must be reinforced, he stressed. "We don't exclude any possibility, including of course the use of ff!orce, but only as a last resort." //www.marketnews.com