Europe moves to rein in US over plans to attack Iraq

EUROPE moved to stay America’s hand over Iraq yesterday, as top officials spoke out against a rush to war on the basis of inconclusive weapons inspections.

"Without proof, it would be very difficult to start a war," European Union foreign policy coordinator Javier Solana said.

As US President George Bush continued to mobilise his forces and met Iraqi opposition leaders, one of President Saddam Hussein's main Iraqi foes said an invasion could destabilise the Middle East and warned that the sort of massive occupying force Washington envisages would face popular armed resistance.