London: British Premier Tony Blair on March 5 said a war on Iraq could be avoided if
Saddam Hussein complied with United Nations or went into exile, while expressing
confidence that a second resolution on Baghdad will by passed by the UN Security
Council.
"The only two ways to avoid war is if the Iraqi regime fully complied with the order
to disclose and destroy its weapons of mass destruction – or if Saddam Hussein is to
leave the country," Blair said.
Blair told the House of Commons hours after he met Russian Foreign Minister Igor
Ivanov that a second UN resolution against Iraq should be carried next week.
He said UK and US would press the new draft to a vote, if UN weapons inspector Hans
Blix reports on March 7 that Saddam is still failing to comply fully with the
existing UN Resolution 1441.
Blair said all the world leaders he had spoken to agreed Saddam was failing to
comply with UN demands to disarm.
"I hope very much that the United Nations supports the position it set out in
resolution 1441 last November," he said.
Asked if a majority of the Security Council backing military action would be enough,
Blair said the effect on the UN of not standing firm would be "disastrous".
Ivanov's 50-minute meeting with Blair at Downing Street came after he told BBC News
Online on March 4 that Russia might veto a second UN resolution about military
action.
Blair's spokesman said both the leaders agreed Iraq had to comply with UN demands.
PTI
