France pours cold water on Bush's sunny vision of Iraq

France, one of the harshest critics of the war that brought down Saddam Hussein, stressed it would not commit troops for Iraq despite appeals from the United States and United Nations.

As Iraq Prime Minister Iyad Allawi met in Washington with US President George W. Bush and hailed the war as a success, France poured cold water on any slim hope it might send forces to help ease the post-war chaos.

"As everyone knows, France did not approve of the conditions in which the conflict was unleashed. Neither today nor tomorrow will it commit itself militarily in Iraq," French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier said.

"In Iraq, violence is exploding. Only when the Iraqis themselves take control of their future ... will the country be able to escape the chaos which could destabilise the entire region," Barnier told the UN General Assembly.

The bitter divisions over the war have re-emerged in the opening days of the two-week annual debate of world leaders at the United Nations, especially after a pointed exchange Tuesday between Bush and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

Annan has asked for nations to contribute troops to help protect UN staff who are working to help prepare for elections in Iraq before the end of January -- but no nations have yet committed any forces.

France helped lead opposition to the war on the UN Security Council last year, ensuring that Washington did not get the council's blessing for the invasion.

But the council's inability to find consensus, much less prevent the United States from going ahead with the "pre-emptive" war, convinced Annan that the UN system was in need of sweeping reform.

He appointed a high-level panel due to report on December with proposals for change, including possibly expanding the 15-nation council.

Source: Agencies