Open Text: Exact Phrase:

The reactions towards President Bush's offer to provide more intelligence info on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction have been mixed and cautiously welcomed by France and Russia.

French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin said that his country was pleased at America's decision and has been for several weeks asking to provide the 'proof'.

Russia while welcoming the decision for providing evidence, cautioned countries not to act alone.

Here are some more reactions to the speech:

"The centre of gravity should be the United Nations" Javier Solana, EU Foreign Policy Chief

"You can only succeed in the fight against international terrorism by strengthening the anti-terrorist coalition." Igor Ivanov, Russian Foreign Minister

"If Saddam Hussein is allowed to carry on developing weapons of mass destruction...he is not just a threat to his own region, he is a threat to the world" Tony Blair, British Prime Minister

"I welcome this American decision. We have been asking all those who have special information to give it to the inspectors so they can do their work in the best conditions" Dominique de Villepin, French Foreign Minister

"If further relevant information is made available to the U.N. inspectors, as has been announced, then that should be welcomed because it can only promote their work" Joschka Fischer,German Foreign Minister

"We do know of links between al Qaeda and Iraq -- we cannot be sure of the exact extent of those links" Tony Blair, British Prime Minister

"We are guided by the principles of international law and the prerogatives of the Security Council and, as we have said before, we do not see grounds for the use of military force,we think that international inspectors should be given the opportunity to continue their work" Alexander Yakovenko,Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman

"I think the more evidence that is placed on the table, if there is some, the better" Hans Blix, Chief of UNMOVIC

"We think that this kind of American effort to present the reasons and the evidence to the international community is a very good effort to maintain solidarity" Hatsuhisa Takashima, Japan's Foreign Ministry spokesman

"The international situation, especially the crisis over Iraq is worrying me. I am worried about whether we will succeed in avoiding a war in Iraq" Gerhard Schroeder, German Chancellor

"The responsibility of the international community is immense. It is a question of war and peace. It is a choice one must not make lightly" Dominique de Villepin, French Foreign Minister

"They have passed a resolution and they must ensure that Iraq complies with that resolution" John Howard, Australian Prime Minister


(Various sources)

• No Forum Comments on this Article yet.