Foreign Minister call for utmost effort to avert war
( 2003-02-15 10:06 ) (7 )

China's foreign minister Tang Jiaxuan called on the UN Security Council on Friday to do all it can to avert a war against Iraq and said UN inspections should continue.

"We must do our best and use all possible means to avert war," Tang Jiaxuan told the 15-nation council following the latest report on Iraqi disarmament by chief UN arms inspectors Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei.

"It is necessary for the inspection work in Iraq to continue," he said.

"Inspections should be given the time they need to carry out resolution 1441," unanimously adopted by the Security Council on Nov. 8, Tang said.