Former South African president Mr Nelson Mandela said today it would be a disaster if Britain and the United States extended their bombing campaign to Iraq.
Asked whether he would support the bombing of Iraq, Mr Mandela told reporters: "That would be a disaster".
Mr Mandela said Britain and the United States were bypassing the United Nations in conducting the anti-terror campaign. "That is extremely dangerous because they are introducing chaos into international affairs," the 1993 Nobel peace laureate said in Cape Town.
Mr Mandela said Britain and the United States seemed to be afraid their actions would be vetoed by the UN Security Council.
"The United States and Britain have acted without going through the United Nations . . . What they are doing is to say if you fear there could be a veto of your action, you are entitled to act independently of the Security Council," he said.
US President Mr George W. Bush last week demanded Iraqi President Mr Saddam Hussein allow UN arms inspectors to return to Iraq and said Saddam would find out the consequences if he refused.
Mr Mandela said he supported the US bombing campaign in Afghanistan only insofar it is trying to flush out the terrorists in Afghanistan. "I don't agree of course that Bush should attack wholesale the country of Afghanistan".
Mr Mandela also said the United States was not the best mediator for the Middle East because it was perceived to be a friend of Israel.
"The proper thing is for the United States of America, Britain, France, Saudi Arabia and Egypt jointly to mediate together," he said.