Washington, Mar 12: In an about-turn from comments he made earlier in the day, US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld has said that he had no doubt about Britain's full
support in any effort to disarm Iraq by force.
"I have no doubt of the full support of the United
Kingdom for the international community's efforts to disarm
Iraq," Rumsfeld said in a statement yesterday.
"In the event that a decision to use force is made, we
have every reason to believe there will be a significant
military contribution from the united kingdom," the statement
said.
Earlier in the day, Rumsfeld implied that the United
States may be making plans to fight a war against Iraq without
a military contribution from Britain if the need should arise.
His comments came in response to a journalist's question
about the growing British opposition to war - especially
without the approval of the United Nations - which has
complicated the position of Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Britain is the main US ally in its showdown with Iraq,
and has sent thousands of troops to the Gulf, while still
lobbying strongly for a new resolution that would set a
deadline for Iraq to disarm ahead of force being used.
Meanwhile, the British government said yesterday that
there was complete cooperation with the United States on
military plans for a possible war on Iraq, after Washington
indicated it was prepared to act without its chief ally.
"There has been complete cooperation throughout between
the United Kingdom and United States on the military
planning," a downing street spokeswoman said in response to
the statement by the US defence secretary.
Bureau Report
