China backs France in opposing Iraq war

China yesterday backed France, Russia and Germany's vow to block a UN draft resolution authorising war on Iraq, but the United States suggested Baghdad had just days left to disarm peacefully.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair signalled yesterday he would be prepared to go to war even if some UN powers vetoed the US-British resolution for approval for war.

"If there was a veto applied by one of the countries ... or by countries that I thought were applying the veto unreasonably then in those circumstances I would," Blair said when asked if he would go to war without a UN mandate.

The resolution, expected to be pushed to a vote next week, has split the five veto-wielding Security Council members, with the United States and Britain standing against France, Russia and China. A 'no' vote by any of them would defeat the motion.

The United States and Britain have more than 250,000 troops poised in the Gulf region along with dozens of warships and 600 strike aircraft ready to launch a possible attack on Iraq.

They have pushed for UN approval to disarm Iraq and oust President Saddam Hussein. Those opposed to the US-British position say they want UN weapons inspectors to be given considerably more time to hunt for any banned weapons.

In Baghdad, a defiant Saddam said US President George W. Bush would be committing an act of "absolute stupidity" if he attacked.

"We will fight its forces like we fought them in 1991 whether they come alone or under an international cover," he said, referring to the 1991 Gulf War in which Iraqi invasion forces were driven out of Kuwait by a US-led coalition.

Blair, like leaders in some other states backing the US stand, faces broad opposition to war and a UN resolution approving such action would help him at home. Leaders in Spain, Italy and Australia are in similar positions.

He said on MTV television: "I still believe we will get that second resolution. I don't want to go outside the United Nations."

The 15-member Security Council meets today, with most foreign ministers attending, to hear the latest report by UN inspectors, hunting banned weapons in Iraq since November.

That meeting should see a strong exchange over how to disarm Iraq, and pressure is being put on undecided Security Council members, where nine votes are needed to pass and no veto cast.

France, Russia and Germany on Wednesday vowed to block the US-British resolution on war and China has joined them.

"China endorses and supports their joint statement," Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan said yesterday.

With the council divided and the spectre of a veto, Britain has suggested changing the US-British draft resolution to approve war but also give Iraq a bit more time to disarm.

Diplomats said the suggestions were discussed with several undecided council members to try to win over the swing votes.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell vented his frustration on Wednesday, charging Baghdad was not disarming, had ordered continued production of banned missiles and was hiding weapons material from UN inspectors.

"We will see in the next few days whether or not he understands the situation that he is in and he makes that choice (to disarm)," Powell said. "Saddam Hussein will be disarmed. The only question before us now is how."

US and British warplanes, sharply increasing patrols over southern Iraq ahead of a looming war, attacked two air defence targets west of Baghdad yesterday, the US military said.

In Baghdad, the realisation seemed to be finally dawning on ordinary Iraqis that they are probably facing their third major war in two decades.

Dependent on rumours and state-controlled television, they have been insulated from the diplomatic battles at the United Nations and the buildup of US and British forces.

"Is it true that American warships have arrived in the Gulf to attack Iraq?" an Iraqi woman asked a journalist. "We also heard that America sent many troops to Kuwait, is that true?"

During the 1990s Iraqis often saw their country's conflict with the United States reach boiling point but then subside, and many believed it would be defused by the United Nations.

"We have been hearing about a US attack but only last week we started believing it would happen, when we saw the president talk about it on TV," said Ahmed Hasan, 50, a trader.

Friday's Security Council meeting looks to be emotionally charged, with the foreign ministers from most council members attending to push their cases.

Powell's harsh assessment of Iraqi cooperation contrasted with comments by UN chief weapons inspector Hans Blix, who said Iraq had stepped up disarmament cooperation recently.

Iraq's decision last week to start destroying its banned al-Samoud 2 missiles is certain to be cited by council members who want more time for UN inspectors.

Iraq said yesterday it had scrapped six more al-Samoud 2 missiles, bringing the number to 34 out of some 120 missiles.