Global Policy Forum

UK Foreign Office Minister Peter Hain has criticised French policy on Iraq and its impact on the UN Security Council's efforts to maintain sanctions against Baghdad. In a speech in London, Mr Hain described French policy as contemptible and destructive.

The BBC's diplomatic correspondent, Barnaby Mason, says that although Mr Hain did not spell out exactly what he was criticising, in his speech he referred to the recent wave international flights into Iraq. A French aircraft, the second since August, landed in the Iraqi capital today.

Speaking at the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London, Chatham House, the minister also criticised the United Arab Emirates, particularly Dubai, for becoming a conduit for Iraqi oil. Mr Hain added that the Security Council resolution held out the prospect of sanctions being suspended if Baghdad co-operated with a new UN weapons inspection body.

Increasing defiance

Speaking to BBC radio earlier, Mr Hain said Britain wanted to see the sanctions suspended. "There is a new way forward. What we should do is join together and encourage Saddam to take it," he said. "That is why we spent eight months negotiating with the United Nations on Security Council resolution 1284, which would provide for sanctions to be suspended within six months."

Iraq says it would not accept the new UN arms inspection team established under the resolution last December, arguing that it has already destroyed all its banned weapons of mass destruction.

Mr Hain said France's policy might bring short-term gains, but described as destructive in the long term. He urged those tempted by what he called commercial gains or gesture politics to consider the possible damage to the UN's credibility.

In August, the Iraqi authorities reopened the airport near Baghdad, which has since welcomed a stream of international flights organised by countries and organisations to campaign against the sanctions imposed on Iraq.

In the past few months, France, Russia, Turkey and many Arab states have sent international missions to Iraq in the face of US and UK objections. The flights have been described as humanitarian missions to comply with UN sanctions on commercial flights to Iraq. On Sunday, Iraq launched its first domestic flights after nearly a decade.