Blair hints at war despite vetoes
 |
Blair says he would prefer a second resolution to be passed.
Story Tools
SPECIAL REPORT
|
|
|
LONDON, England (Reuters) -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair signaled on Thursday he could be prepared to wage war on Iraq even if a number of U.N. powers vetoed a new resolution authorizing military action.
Until now, Blair has said he reserved the right to go to war without U.N. authorization in case a singular "unreasonable veto" was wielded.
But in a debate on music television channel MTV he appeared to extend that proviso to include multiple vetoes.
"If there was a veto applied by one of the countries with a veto or by countries that I thought were applying the veto unreasonably then in those circumstances I would," Blair said when asked if would go to war without a new U.N. mandate.
"But we are fighting very hard to get a second resolution through and...I still believe we will get that second resolution. I don't want to go outside the United Nations."
Diplomats at the United Nations said late on Wednesday Britain had proposed allowing Iraq more time to comply with disarmament demands following adoption of a new resolution authorizing war. (Compromise on agenda)
It discussed the plan with undecided Security Council members who are uneasy about a U.S.-British-Spanish draft resolution which says Iraq has missed its last chance to comply.
China became the latest big power to oppose moves to war, declaring on Thursday it backed a joint statement by France, Russia and Germany that they would block a resolution giving the go-ahead for an attack.
Blair will face mass opposition at home if he follows the United States into action without U.N. authority.
Copyright 2003
Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
