China says no need for new UN resolution

China sees no need for another UN resolution against Iraq and believes weapons inspections should be strengthened as part of efforts to avert war.

"The Iraq issue is now at a critical juncture of whether there will be a political solution or a military one," Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan said.

He said the current weapons inspection resolution being carried out by the inspectors, Resolution 1441, was working.

"The tasks carried out by that resolution are not completed yet," Tang said.

"We are still working hard for a political solution and to try to avoid war. At this moment, it is absolutely unnecessary to put aside Resolution 1441 and introduce a new resolution."