(CNN) -- Describing U.S. and British military action in Iraq as "senseless," Russian President Boris Yeltsin said Sunday that Operation Desert Fox had only made the weapons crisis more difficult to solve.

Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov also expressed concern that U.S. President Bill Clinton has not ruled out resuming the attacks if Iraq tries to rebuild its banned arsenal.

"We are put very much on our guard by statements that this may be a temporary pause, and that strikes might be resumed," Primakov said. "We are categorically against putting the question in this way."

China on Sunday called for renewed diplomatic efforts to resolve the dispute between U.N. weapons inspectors and Iraq.

"China hopes for an early resumption of diplomatic efforts to solve the issue concerning the weapons inspection in Iraq by political means," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao.

Russia and China, both permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, have been among the harshest critics of the military strike against Iraq, calling it a violation of the U.N. charter.

Russia recalled its ambassador from Washington on Thursday after the airstrikes began. Earlier this week, Yeltsin described the U.S.-British attack as "unprovoked" by Iraq.

The reaction of other countries' leaders to the end of Operation Desert Fox ranged the political spectrum:

• French President Jacques Chirac, although less outspoken in his criticism of military action than his counterparts in Russia and China, nevertheless welcomed the mission's end. He called for a review of the eight-year-old international oil embargo on Baghdad.

"First of all, we must improve the living conditions of the Iraqi people, who have suffered for so many years," Chirac said. "This is possible and necessary."

• Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini, whose government had asked the United States and Britain to reconsider the action last week, said the reasons for the military strikes were legitimate but the bombings themselves were "debatable initiatives."

• Germany, which had backed the strikes, expressed relief Sunday that they were over.

"It is deeply regrettable ... that these strikes could not be avoided," said Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer.

• Belgian Foreign Minister Erik Derycke argued that the "United Nations approach" to international crises is not working, and criticized Britain for joining the bombing campaign without consulting its European Union partners.

"War is never a successful action," he told VTM television.

• In Libya, mass demonstrations were staged against the air attacks and protesters criticized Arab governments for failing to take a stand, Libyan television reported.

• In Sydney, Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer said chief U.N. arms inspector and former Australian diplomat Richard Butler had received death threats over the bombing offensive and was given extra personal protection.

• The Vatican expressed profound sorrow over the violence. Pope John Paul said hopes that international law could be upheld had been dashed.

"Not only do I feel profound sorrow for the Iraqi people, but I am also bitter to see how often the hopes invested in the power and validity of international law and in the organizations meant to guarantee its application are disappointed," he said in his weekly Angelus speech to pilgrims in St Peter's Square.

"The Christmas atmosphere makes the suffering of the Iraqi people in recent days even more acute. No one can remain indifferent to their tragedy," said the 78-year-old pontiff.

Reuters contributed to this report.