Straw: No Iraq decision yet

The allies have bombed Iraq since the Gulf War

The foreign secretary has insisted no decision has yet been taken on military action against Iraq and its dictator Saddam Hussein.

But Jack Straw maintained the world had branded Saddam a global security risk.

The stance taken by President George W Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair has also been backed by former foreign secretary Lord Hurd.

The situation the international community faces with Iraq is a very serious one

Jack Straw
Foreign Secretary

Writing for BBC New Online, the Tory peer said the US and UK were right to recognise the "menace" posed by Iraq.

Lord Hurd said a UN security council resolution to allow inspections should be sought and, if disobeyed by the regime, military action would be justified.

"We must hope that the diplomatic pressure on Iraq and the threat of military force may be enough to produce an adequate change in their policy.

"War should always be a last resort - but it may come to that."

Region's security

Mr Straw told BBC Radio 4's Today programme Saddam had consistently defied the UN and threatened the international community.

"The whole world has made a decision that Iraq poses a very serious threat to the security of the region and to the security of the international community.

"There have been nine security council resolutions over a period of 10 years."

Jack Straw is aware of backbench disquiet

It had imposed 27 separate obligations on Iraq, of which 23 had been "flouted", according to Mr Straw.

"So the situation the international community faces, the world faces, with Iraq is a very serious one.

"The United States have made it very clear that any decisions have to be taken carefully, cautiously and in accordance with our international obligations in order to get Saddam Hussein to understand and implement his international obligations."

There is disquiet among Labour backbenchers over the possibility of British troops and planes being involved in action against Iraq.

George Galloway, a fervent critic of government policy towards Iraq, has said "revolution is in the air" among many of his colleagues who oppose military action.

Some MPs are particularly worried about Britain being the only direct supporter of US strikes.

No immediate action

The EU's stance on an attack on Iraq is still to crystallise.

Foreign policy chief Javier Solana said it is too early for the EU to contemplate a role in any military strike.

"If there is military action it will not take place in 24 hours," he told Today.

"We will have plenty of time to think about that. We want to see how the situation may evolve in New York and the United Nations."

But he insisted Iraq must open its bordered to UN weapons inspectors and said he would like to see a different regime in place next year.