Iraq's UN ambassador told the Security Council that while a war to force Iraq to give up banned weapons seemed inevitable, it would backfire."War against Iraq will not unearth any weapons of mass destruction," Mr Mohammed al-Douri said.
"But it will reap destruction, for a very simple reason: there are no such weapons, except in the imagination of some.
"And therefore all those who abetted in the commission of that crime, without a direct interest, will be sorry, indeed."
Mr Al-Douri told the 15 members of the council that a proposal from the US, Britain and Spain forcing Iraq to disarm by March 17th was arbitrary.
"It seems that the possibility of a war of aggression being launched on Iraq has become imminent regardless of what this Security Council decides and regardless of the international position - both official and public - strongly rejecting aggression and war and demanding a peaceful solution," he said.
"The entire world, with the exception of a handful of states, remain desirous to see the United Nations continuing to fulfil the tasks - even trusted it - in keeping international peace and security," he said.
Meanwhile, the state Iraqi news agency scoffed at the "foolish" remarks of US Secretary of State Colin Powell and British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw: "Colin Powell and his British servant, Jack Straw, reiterated the same allegations, fabrications and foolishness which have been and continue to be reproved by the whole world."
This "reproof" was reflected in the "massive demonstrations around the world that expressed total rejection of any US-British aggression against Iraq", it added. - (AFP)