China calls for end to US-led war
( 2003-03-29 10:12 ) (1 )

China strongly urged the United States and its allies to halt its war against Iraq and return to the road of resolving the Iraqi issue through political means.

"We strongly call on the countries concerned to put an end to the military action and come back to the right path of political settlement of the question of Iraq,'' Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations Wang Yingfan said in a Security Council open debate on Thursday local time.

Regardless of opposition from the vast majority of countries in the world, the United States and some other nations bypassed the United Nations and waged war against Iraq, he said.

"Such a practice violated the United Nations Charter and the basic norms of international law,'' Wang stressed.

The military action has already resulted in civilian casualties and loss of property, and could bring about a humanitarian catastrophe, he warned.

It could also affect peace, stability and development in the region and the world as a whole, Wang added.

Wang said China supports the Security Council in playing a continued important role on the question of Iraq.