Turkey, a key NATO ally, urged the United States today not to attack Iraq, saying the country did not pose a threat to its neighbours.
"We feel that Iraq should not be the subject of military attacks because it would upset the whole Middle East," Turkish Prime Minister Mr Bulent Ecevit told reporters after meeting European leaders at an EU summit in Barcelona.
"Since the Gulf War, Iraq has been under strict control...It is under constant surveillance so it is not in a position any more to inflict any harm on its neighbours or even against its people," Mr Ecevit said.
The United States, which led a coalition of countries against Iraq in the 1991 Gulf War, has warned Baghdad that it must face the consequences if it does not let international weapons inspectors return to the country.
EU leaders were expected to discuss Iraq during their two-day summit in Spain, with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder telling reporters that there were no plans at present for a strike against Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.