Iraq report: reactions

Britain: inspections have become a charade

The United States and other countries have reacted to the UN weapons inspectors report to the United Nations:

"The president will continue to consult and talk to our allies but... time is running out...

"If you are waiting for the smoking gun when you see the smoke coming out of the gun it is too late, the damage has already been done...

Ari Fleischer, White House spokesman

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"We [Germany and France] are both of the opinion that nobody has the right to undertake any kind of action without a decision of the Security Council."

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder

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"There's clear evidence now that Saddam has made this a charade of an inspection: Co-operating on process, but not on substance."

UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw

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"At the present time, there is no need to adopt new resolutions on Iraq."

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Fedotov

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"I think it is the opinion of most of the members that since we have started this process and there is no clear reason to stop it, that we should continue."

Zhang Yishan, Chinese Deputy Ambassador to the UN

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"[It is] important that the inspectors' work be carried out within the time needed."

French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin

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"We think that we need more time for the inspectors to make (their) report to the United Nations Security Council."

Jean Chretien, Canadian prime minister

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"Although Iraq may have co-operated in a process sense, in substance Iraq has not co-operated."

Australian Prime Minister John Howard

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"[It is] necessary to accept the inspectors' work."

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher

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"There should be no outer limit for peace. War is a very serious and dangerous proposition, you have to avoid it by all means up until it is the only necessity and one the whole world community decides."

"So if they [UN inspectors] need more time, they should be given more time. Why should we be in a hurry to wage war?"

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa

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"We are doing everything. We are co-operating in every way...

"Iraq has fully complied with all its obligations according to Resolution 1441."

Mohammed al-Douri, Iraqi Ambassador to the UN