WAR ON IRAK

Guardian: World leaders decry US attack

The declaration of war brought fierce criticism from world leaders today, as Russia accused the US of committing "a big political mistake" and France expressed its "regret" over the strikes.
French President Jacques Chirac, in his first public comments since the bombing of Iraq began, said he hoped for a quick end to the fighting .

In a brief televised speech, he said: "France regrets this action taken without approval of the United Nations. We hope these operations will be as rapid and least deadly as possible, and that they don't lead to a humanitarian catastrophe."

Mr Chirac said his country would continue to support the United Nations as the forum to solve "crises which bloody and threaten the world". He said: "It is the only legitimate framework to build peace in Iraq as elsewhere."

However, the French president was muted by comparison with other statesmen, such as the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, who demanded a quick end to the war.

Mr Putin told senior ministers in the Kremlin this morning: "Military action can in no way be justified. Military action is a big political error."

China was even more outspoken, accusing the US of starting an illegitimate conflict and "violating the norms of international behaviour".

The Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, Kong Quan, told a regular press briefing the attack had been "carried out in disregard for the opposition of the international community".

"We express regret and disappointment," Mr Kong said. "We urge the relevant countries to stop using force, to stop military action. The Iraqi question must return to the track of political settlement within the UN framework."