France has strongly criticised the chief United Nations weapons inspector, Richard Butler, for saying that Iraq had the means to devastate Tel Aviv with an attack using biological weapons.

The French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine expressed doubts about Mr Butler's assertion that Iraq possessed large quantities of anthrax.

He suggested that Mr Butler was exceeding his role.

A French government spokesman added that Mr Butler's claims did not conform with the information provided to the Security Council - which France currently chairs.

The rebuke came as President Chirac held talks in Paris on Iraq with the Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov.

Afterwards, Mr Primakov said they had agreed that everything possible should be done to keep the situation stable; and Iraq must respect United Nations resolutions.

Richard Butler: has angered Iraq

Mr Butler has previously been criticised for speaking to journalists before briefing the Security Council.

In Israel itself, a senior official warned Iraq that any attack on Israeli territory would be much more dangerous for Iraq than for Israel.

On Thursday, the American Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, is due in Paris to discuss the crisis amid growing signs that the United States and Britain are ready to contemplate military action against Iraq.

Russian envoy in Iraq

On Tuesday a Russian envoy, Deputy Foreign Minister, Viktor Posavalyuk, held talks in Baghdad to try to end the stand-off.

He told the Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister, Tariq Aziz, that Russia was still committed to a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

Military action would "neither lead to boosting security in the region nor to implementation of international resolutions," said Mr Posuvalyuk.

Iraq criticises weapons inspector

The Iraqi Government is showing little sign of compromise. Baghdad had earlier accused the head of the UN inspection teams, Richard Butler, of trying to involve Israel in attacks on Iraq.

The government also annouced on Wednesday that it is to cut infant milk rations again next month because the United States has blocked supplies under the United Nations oil-for-food programme.

Under the programme, Iraq can sell some oil for humanitarian supplies to ease the impact of UN sanctions.

A spokesman for Iraq's Trade Ministry said that the United States had used its authority to block supplies.
 

Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage	©