Chirac rejects US administration of post-war Iraq

2003-03-21 17:54

Brussels - French President Jacques Chirac said Friday that he would refuse to accept a US-British post-war administration of Iraq, saying the United Nations was the only body which could be responsible for rebuilding the country.

"France will not accept a resolution tending to legitimize the military intervention and giving the American and English belligerents powers over the administration of Iraq," he told a press conference.

Speaking after an EU summit clouded by divisions over Iraq, he added that, whatever the outcome of the war on Iraq, "it will be necessary to rebuild," and "for that there is only one body, the UN."

- AFX