British Prime Minister Tony Blair returned Sunday from a meeting with US president George W Bush on taking action over Iraq. “We have a total determination to deal with this issue. But we do want to deal with it on the basis of the broadest possible international support," Blair was quoted by BBC as saying.

However the US and Britain have encountered criticisms from both at home and aboard.

US Poll Finds Unease on War on Iraq

According to a latest New York Times/CBS News poll published Sunday, Americans increasingly doubt that their government has done enough to protect them against terrorist attacks and are concerned about launching a war on Iraq.

The poll shows that majorities are convinced, despite misgivings, that there will be a war against Iraq. But they insist that the United States should not launch the war against Iraq without Congressional and allied support first and a clear explanation from President George W. Bush.

The same day, ex-UN arms inspector Scott Ritter, a US national now visiting Iraq, warned that the United States would make a "historical mistake" if it launches war on Iraq, while urging Iraq to accept an unconditional resumption of UN weapons inspections.

Russia: War on Iraq may Split Anti-terror Coalition

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said Sunday that the possible war conducted by the United States and Britain on Iraq might split anti-terror coalition.

Attempts to interfere in the domestic affairs of sovereign states under the pretext of combating terrorism "will not only complicate the situation in the region but can also inflict irreparable damage on unity within the framework of the anti-terrorism coalition," he was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying.

Ivanov reiterated Russia's stand that the United Nations should remain the leading coordinator of international efforts and the chief author of legal standards to underlie action by all states.

Germany, France Reject Unilateral Action against Iraq

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and French President Jacques Chirac expressed on Saturday evening their opposition to Washington's intended unilateral military action against Iraq.

After an informal meeting with Chirac in Hanover, Schroeder reiterated that Germany under his government would not participate in any military strike on Iraq, a position that is shared by France.

Schroeder said that both Berlin and Paris insist on no unilateral action on the issue of Iraq, an unconditional return of UN inspectors to Iraq and a significant role by UN in resolving the Iraqi issue.

Belgium Criticizes Britain for Lack of EU Policy on Iraq

Louis Michel, Belgium's foreign minister, had blamed Britain's support of the United States for the lack of a single European Union (EU) voice on Iraq. "If it is impossible today within the European Union to have one, single, undivided voice to say no to (US President George) Bush, it's in large part because Britain through (British Prime Minister) Tony Blair gives unquestioned, unilateral support to the United States," he told Belgian television's weekly news magazine program Mise au Point on Sunday.

Finland Opposes War on Iraq

Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja Sunday said that the confrontation between the United States and Iraq should not be taken as the reason to stage a war against Iraq.

The minister made the remarks in an article published on the local newspaper Kaleva. He said that the United States should present sufficient evidence to show there is relationship between Iraq and terrorism as it thinks so.

The Finnish minister also said that it's up to the United Nations to settle the issue of destroying weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, which might be owned by the country ruled by Saddam Hussein.

Iraq Denies Seeking Nuke Materials

Iraq denied reports that it is trying to collect materials for nuclear weapons and building up sites once targeted by UN inspectors, saying Sunday the claims were lies spread by the United States and Britain to justify an attack.

The denial came as US President Bush has begun taking his case for possible military action against Iraq to his allies, meeting the day before with British Prime Minister Blair at Camp David and preparing to deliver a key speech at the United Nations this week.

(china.org.cn edited by Zheng Guihong, September 9, 2002)