Dubai: Most countries including Russia, China and Germany on March 20 denounced the
US-led attack on Iraq "violating" norms while a handful of America's allies
supported the action saying it was "inevitable" to eradicate weapons of mass
destruction.
Deploring the US action, Russia said, "With a military campaign that has started,
all one can do is again express extreme regret and hope that the number of people
killed and injured as a result of hostilities would be minimal."
An unnamed government source, quoted by Interfax news agency, said, "It was
regrettable that diplomatic efforts by Russia, France and Germany failed to avert a
military crackdown."
China accused US of "violating the norms of international behaviour" and said the US
has gone ahead with the military action "in disregard for the opposition of the
international community".
"We express regret and disappointment," Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan
said.
Demanding that everything must be done to avoid humanitarian catastrophe among the
Iraqi people, Germany said the UN and the Security Council must play a central role
in re-establishing peace in Iraq.
"The goal is to maintain Iraq's territorial integrity and put the Iraqi people in a
position to form a united Iraq, relieved of its weapons of mass destruction, as a
recognised and prosperous member of the international community," a government
statement issued in Berlin said.
PTI
