Former president warns against Iraq war

Former US President Jimmy Carter says a unilateral attack on Iraq would not meet his criteria of a "just war."

In an article published in Sunday's editions of The New York Times, Carter says the United States has not exhausted all options for a peaceful resolution to the Iraq crisis.

He says an attack on the country would violate "basic religious principles" and "respect for international law."

He says the Bush administration has presented an "unconvincing" case linking the al-Qaida terror network to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, and should seek more international support before taking military action.

"As a Christian and as a president who was severely provoked by international crises, I became thoroughly familiar with the principles of a just war, and it is clear that a substantially unilateral attack on Iraq does not meet these standards," Carter said.

Carter, who was awarded the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, says a war with Iraq could destabilise the Middle East and increase the likelihood of terrorist attacks on American soil.