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China demands end to US-led war on Iraq
Beijing, Mar 20: China today strongly appealed for an end to US-led war against Iraq and asserted that the use of force has `violated the norms of international law and the UN charter.`
Beijing, Mar 20: China today strongly appealed for an end to US-led war against Iraq and asserted that the use of force has "violated the norms of international law and the UN charter."
"The military actions against Iraq, carried out despite opposition from most countries ... And bypassing the UNSC violated the UN charter and the basic norms of international
law," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Kong Quan said.
"We urge the relevant countries to stop using force, to stop military action," Kong said. "The Iraqi question must return to the right track of political settlement within the UN framework." "The Chinese government strongly appeals the relevant countries to stop military actions," the foreign ministry said in a strongly-worded statement. "The Chinese government hereby expresses its serious concern," it said, adding, "we stand for settlement of international disputes by political means and reject the use or threat of force in international affairs."
It pointed out that a war would "inevitably lead to humanitarian disasters and undermine the security, stability and development of the region and the world at large."
In a rare move, the state-run China Central Television broadcast live, with simultaneous translation, the address by US President George W Bush on the start of the war. On Bush's remarks that the attack on Iraq represented part of the fight against terrorism, Kong said it was a "violation of the UN charter and norms of international law."
China evacuated all its nationals from Iraq and closed its Baghdad embassy, even as Chinese police tightened security cordons around foreign diplomatic missions and other key buildings where foreigners lived.
Bureau Report
"We urge the relevant countries to stop using force, to stop military action," Kong said. "The Iraqi question must return to the right track of political settlement within the UN framework." "The Chinese government strongly appeals the relevant countries to stop military actions," the foreign ministry said in a strongly-worded statement. "The Chinese government hereby expresses its serious concern," it said, adding, "we stand for settlement of international disputes by political means and reject the use or threat of force in international affairs."
It pointed out that a war would "inevitably lead to humanitarian disasters and undermine the security, stability and development of the region and the world at large."
In a rare move, the state-run China Central Television broadcast live, with simultaneous translation, the address by US President George W Bush on the start of the war. On Bush's remarks that the attack on Iraq represented part of the fight against terrorism, Kong said it was a "violation of the UN charter and norms of international law."
China evacuated all its nationals from Iraq and closed its Baghdad embassy, even as Chinese police tightened security cordons around foreign diplomatic missions and other key buildings where foreigners lived.
Bureau Report