Chirac condemns unilateral force

By Barnaby Mason
BBC diplomatic correspondent in New York

Mr Chirac: Transferring sovereignty to the Iraqis is essential

The French president has reaffirmed the "vital importance" of the multilateral approach in world affairs.

Jacques Chirac was speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York, shortly after US President George Bush.

In remarks directed at the US, he said no-one could act alone in the name of all, or claim the right to use force unilaterally and pre-emptively.

He said the war in Iraq, undertaken without Security Council approval, had undermined the multilateral system.

Multilateralism was the key, Mr Chirac said, and it was a modern idea suited to complex global problems.

The United Nations has just weathered one of the gravest trials in its history Jacques Chirac Chirac UN speech in full

He emphasised that transferring sovereignty to the Iraqis was essential, though he set no deadline.

He also talked about the gradual transfer of administrative and economic responsibilities according to a realistic timetable.

Mr Chirac called for far-reaching reform of the UN itself including the Security Council, echoing a theme laid out by the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

He backed Mr Annan's idea of a high-level panel to look at the challenges facing the UN and possible reform of its institutions.