The German Foreign Minister Mr Joschka Fischer has said it is possible to disarm Iraq by peaceful means and "there is a real alternative to war".
Mr Fischer told the UN Security Council that Iraqi co-operation with UN weapons inspections had notably improved recently, especially in its compliance with UN demands that it destroy its al-Samoud 2 missiles.
"Baghdad could have taken many of the recent steps earlier and more willingly. In recent days co-operation has nevertheless notably improved. This is a positive development which makes all the less comprehensible why this latest development should now be abandoned," he added, referring to US threats to call off the inspections and invade Iraq.
"Peaceful disarmament is possible and there is a real alternative to war," he added.
He said Germany also saw no need for a second UN resolution. The United States and Britain want a resolution as authority for their plans to invade and disarm Iraq.
AFP