German reaction: German Chancellor Mr Gerhard Schröder said yesterday there was no justification for a war against Iraq and no reason to end UN weapons inspections.
However, he admitted in a television address that he was increasingly pessimistic that war could be avoided.
"My question was and is: does the threat posted by the Iraqi dictator justify a war that will bring certain death to thousands of innocent men, women and children? My answer was and is: no."
He reminded viewers that the main goal of UN Security Council Resolution 1441 was not to oust Saddam Hussein but to disarm Iraq. "As desirable as it is that the dictator leaves his post, the goal of Resolution 1441 is the disarmament of Iraq of weapons of mass destruction."
He said weapons inspections were increasingly successful and deserved more time.
He was "deeply moved" that his opinion was shared by the majority of people around the world, and by the majority of Security Council members.
"Whatever happens, in the coming days or even weeks, you can be sure that my government will pursue even the slightest chance for peace."
Mr Otto Schily, the Interior Minister, said an attack by the US was "questionable from the point of view of international law".
Germany will not participate in an Iraq war, but German pilots are working aboard AWACS reconnaissance planes which are monitoring airspace around the Turkish border with Iraq.
Meanwhile, Mr Christian Ströbele, a pacifist member of the Green Party junior coalition partner, has said that Germany would be "supporting war on German soil", a violation of the constitution, if US planes launch air strikes from German bases.
