Alttag—Iraq says US committing a grave blunder Iraq rejects Bush's 48-hour ultimatum Washington: Iraq on March 18 rejected US President Bush's 48-hour ultimatum to Saddam Hussein to leave the country or face military conflict while France and China felt that the "unilateral decision" was contrary to the will of UN Security Council and favoured continuation of efforts for peaceful settlement.

However, Bush got support from his close allies, including Japan and Australia while Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim populated nation said any step taken without the consent of the UN Security Council will have no legality.

There was no immediate reaction from the Arab world but one Arab League Ambassador quoted by CNN said, "It is a very grave day. This is the day that international law has been shovelled away. War will not solve this problem. Unfortunately those who are going to war will find it very difficult to get out of it."

Iraq's Ambassador to UN Mahmood al-Douri said that US would be committing "a grave mistake" by using force to oust Saddam Hussein from power.

"This will destabilise not only the region but other parts of the world. So, I think this would be a mistake, a grave mistake on the part of the American administration to launch this war against my country."

French President Jacques Chirac, in a statement in Paris, said, "This unilateral decision is contrary to the wishes of the Security Council and the international community which wants to pursue disarmament.

"Only the Security Council can legitimise the use of force," Chirac said warning that to forego "the legitimacy of the UN, to privilege force over law is to take a heavy responsibility."

PTI