Symbolic protest from war opponents

FACING imminent war, the world’s staunchest opponents of invading Iraq told the UN Security Council yesterday there was no proof Saddam Hussein posed a threat to any country.

“If today, we had indisputable facts demonstrating that from Iraq there was a direct threat to the US,” Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said Moscow would use any means to help. But no proof has been produced, Ivanov said, and the Security Council had been brushed aside. His remarks were co-ordinated with the foreign ministers of France and Germany, who also addressed the council.

“Germany emphatically rejects the impending war,” Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said. “Iraqi disarmaments were slow in coming, but can that seriously be regarded as grounds for war?” he asked.