The UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan has voiced concern at transatlantic tensions over the Iraq crisis, saying the legitimacy of any action would be impaired without a united International position.
He said the focus must remain on forcing Iraq to disarm.
"It is important that we focus on that principle task and avoid the tendency of turning on each other," he said.
"If the international community fails to agree on a common position and action is taken without the authority of the Security Council, then the legitimacy and the support for that action will be seriously impaired," Annan told reporters after addressing an emergency EU summit on Iraq.
"I also expressed my concern about the tensions that were emerging among nations and tension in the transatlantic relationship. If the (EU) council comes to a decision and were to be able to resolve that, this tension will diminish considerably," he added, referring to the European Council of heads of state and government.
"We cannot afford to have such tensions or have them sustained over a long period of time.
"I hope member states will come together and argue their case out in a patient, persuasive diplomacy that is required to produce common front," he added.
AFP
