Reports by U.N. weapons inspectors Monday highlighted deepening differences over Iraq among members of the European Union, with Britain maintaining support for the United States' tough position and Germany insisting, "war is no alternative."
The 15 EU foreign ministers, gathering in Brussels Monday, initially were united in backing more time for U.N. inspection process and in calling for more cooperation from Iraq. But unity fell away as ministers reacted to the reports by U.N. inspection chief Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the nuclear watchdog agency.

Britain Draws Even Closer to US Position

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was "making a charade of inspection," signaling that the United States' closest ally had only drawn closer. Straw said, "Time has almost run out. If this failure to comply continues, then Iraq will have to face serious consequences."

Germany's Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, however, left the EU meeting reasserting Berlin's steadfast opposition to war against Iraq.

"War is no alternative," he told reporters. "The inspectors have done an excellent job and have to continue ... both reports have made clear that the work needs to continue."

Germany, France & Russia See No Alternative in War

In Berlin, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said Blix and ElBaradei had made clear "the inspectors should get the time they need to be able to complete their work ... This is my ... opinion." He and French President Jacques Chirac agreed on that stance in a telephone conversation Monday, Chirac's office said.

Earlier Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized the need to continue weapons inspections in Iraq during a telephone conversation with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, the Kremlin said.

Blix's report concluded Iraq has not genuinely accepted the U.N. resolution demanding that it disarm and needs to do more to cooperate with the inspectors, while ElBaradei said his teams needed a "few months" to continue their work.

In a statement issued before the inspectors delivered their reports at the Security Council, the EU suggested it would back a request from the inspectors for more time to conclude their work.

Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou, who was chairman at the meeting, said the Europeans would need to hear more from the inspectors on how long they needed.

EU Split Down the Middle

In their joint statement, the EU ministers said the Iraqi leader faced "a final opportunity to resolve the crisis peacefully."

They added that Baghdad "must, as an imperative, provide the inspectors without delay with all the additional and complete information."

Britain is at odds with Germany and France who insist the U.N. Security Council must approve war against Iraq.

The EU is split down the middle on the issue, with Spain, Italy, Portugal and others leaning toward the British view, while Belgium, Sweden and Finland are in a group closer to the Franco-German position.

PHOTO CAPTION

With the Brandenburg Gate seen in the background, a Christian religious leader from Berlin holds a poster that reads ' Church against War' during a demonstration against a possible Iraq war in Berlin Monday, Jan. 27, 2003. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)