Allies defend legal basis of Iraq war

LEADING allies of the United States sought yesterday to defend the legal basis for their support of the US-led invasion of Iraq after UN chief Kofi Annan said it was illegal.

The governments of Britain, Australia and Poland, which have supported the war by sending combat or humanitarian troops of their own, insisted the war was backed by international law, while Japan asked for clarification.

They based their case on past UN resolutions requiring Iraq to disarm.