Europe's moderates 'still opposed to war'

Moderate opinion across Europe is still firmly opposed to war against Iraq, a leading Euro-MP said tonight.

After the latest weapons inspection report to the United Nations, Liberal Democrat Graham Watson said the case for military intervention remained unproven.

Now the calls for more time for a peaceful resolution are likely to be echoed in a European Parliament vote on the Iraq crisis in Strasbourg next week.

The vote is just a fringe event in the Iraqi build-up, but it will reflect continuing concern that those backing the United States-led call to war have precious little public support across the 15 EU countries.

Chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix offered the EU nothing to help resolve its deep political differences with his latest measured verdict on Iraqi co-operation, which gave France and Germany even more reason to remain opposed to military intervention.

The hope, on both sides of the argument for and against war, had been that Mr Blix’s updated analysis of the Iraqi threat would somehow make it easier to win unity within the EU.

“We have heard nothing this afternoon that will shift entrenched positions in Europe – except to reinforce those who say more time is needed,” said one EU official.

Mr Watson, leader of the Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament, said: “There is no case for immediate military action against Iraq.

“The recent arrests of prominent members of Al Qaida remind us that Al Qaida continues to pose a direct threat to the United States and the West as a whole - but on the basis of Hans Blix’s presentation today, Iraq clearly does not.

“A war against Iraq now would distract us from the hugely important task of hunting down the remaining Al Qaida terrorists still on the run.”

Mr Watson added: “Inspections are delivering sufficient results for the weapons inspectors to be given the additional months which Mr Blix has hinted he needs to complete disarmament of Iraq peacefully.

“It would be better to give the weapons inspectors this extra time than to resort now to a war in which many innocent civilians would inevitably die“.

Deputy Conservative leader in the European Parliament John Bowis said: “Unlike when we took action to rescue the Falklands, Kuwait and Bosnia, this time our constituents are uncertain and uneasy.

“They see no unity of purpose among the governments of Europe.

“My own Prime minister, Tony Blair, has abysmally failed to persuade the British people. Unlike Iraq, we are democracies. We cannot go to war without heeding the concerns of the people.”

France and Germany are leading Belgium, Luxembourg, Greece and Austria in strong opposition to backing Washington.

Four member states – Spain, Italy, Denmark and the Netherlands – are openly lining up behind the UK in support of President George Bush’s push to go to war. Ireland is also veering towards the need for force.

The remaining three EU states – Ireland, Sweden, Finland and Portugal – are sitting on the fence, anxious not to offend the Americans but deeply worried about the military build-up against Iraq.