France Would Intervene if Iraq Uses Illegal Weapons

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, March 21, 2003

France Would Intervene if Iraq Uses Illegal Weapons

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France would not rule out intervening militarily in the Iraq war if President Saddam Husseinuses weapons of mass destruction against United States troops or Iraq's neighboring states, the French defense ministry confirmed Thursday.

"Were American or Allied forces to come under chemical or biological attack, France would assess the steps to take in a spirit of friendship and solidarity," Defense Ministry spokesman, Jean-Francois Bureau said.

"We are perfectly disposed to give assistance if the security of our partners in the region is jeopardized... This assistance would be determined by what was needed and could include military means," he said.

France had the means of dealing with chemical or biological attacks, and was very willing to offer assistance to its partners in the Gulf region if they were under such threats, he said.

Bureau said no request for assistance had been formulated by the United States, Britain or any countries in the region. France has defense agreements with the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

The French offer of help could include decontamination material,protective suits, the dispatch of experts or military aid, Bureau said.

Under a French-US agreement signed after the Sept. 11 terror attacks in 2001, France, if needed, would open airspace for US aircraft without application from the Untied States, Bureau confirmed.

So the 14 B-52 strategic bombers that the United States has deployed in Britain since the beginning of this month could fly over France to make air raids on Iraq, he added.

On Tuesday, French Ambassador to Washington Jean-Daniel Levitteon said Paris will change completely its original position on Iraq if Baghdad used chemical and biological weapons in the looming US-led war, because using the prohibited weapons is against international law.

Although France opposes any military action against Iraq, if Iraq unleashed weapons of mass destruction, that "would change completely our perception of the situation," he said. He added: "President (Jacques) Chirac will have to decide what we could do to help the coalition troops."

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