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US seeks help of 50 countries for Iraq war effort

United States President George W Bush in Prague is seeking the help of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation for a possible war against Iraq, and has sent requests to 50 countries to contribute to the war effort if Iraq fails to comply with the United Nations Security Council resolution demanding its disarmament.

Bush laid out his vision for turning NATO into an organisation to fight terrorism. But reports say some members are wary of surrendering all control to the US and doing its bidding.

In another disturbing development, American Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld attacked the United Nations, referring to the Iraqi defiance of the Security Council's 16 previous resolutions and the world body's inability to do anything about it.

Rumsfeld said a recent upsurge of Iraqi anti-aircraft fire targeted at allied warplanes violates the November 8 resolution adopted unanimously by the council.

But Russian and other diplomats said the firing on US and British aircraft in the no-fly zones over Iraq does not constitute 'material breach' of the resolution. UN inspectors would have to locate hidden weapons before a declaration that Iraq is hiding prohibited weapons can be made, they said.

Some American analysts have already started describing the Iraqi action and the American response in the no-fly zones as low-grade war, saying US warplanes are trying to degrade Iraqi air defences, which would be useful in the event of a full-scale war.

The action is also familiarising pilots with the terrain in which they would have to operate should Washington decide to take military action.

American warplanes dropped 20 bombs on Wednesday on what US officials described as 'Iraqi defence communication centres' after Iraqi planes, according to Washington, 'tried to the shoot the aircraft which were patrolling the no-fly zone' established by the Americans, British and French.

The UN resolution does not explicitly sanction a no-fly zone, but Americans say they derive authority from the resolution. Even before UN weapons inspectors have started investigating Iraq's arsenal, Washington has greatly increased the pressure on Baghdad.

American officials deny that any decision to attack Iraq has been taken and assert that their actions are in response to increased Iraqi activity in the zones and meant to send a strong message that Baghdad should co-operate with the inspectors.

Analysts are giving different explanations for the unfolding situation. Some say Iraq is trying to provoke military action to gain the Arab world's sympathy. But others say it is the United States that is trying to provoke Iraq.

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