Saddam taunts Bush as support for US crumbles

Iraq has mocked America's plans for a military campaign to displace Saddam Hussein, saying that Washington is mistaken if it thinks the task would be a replay of its successful ousting of the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Baghdad, which in recent days has veered between outright defiance of the United States and signalling an interest in a diplomatic solution, may have been emboldened by the crumbling of support for American action in many European capitals.

In Europe, leaders such as President Jacques Chirac of France have given fresh voice to concerns that the US would violate international law if it took military action unilaterally.

In the US, Vice-President Dick Cheney had taken the lead in presenting America's case for removing President Saddam by force. He was backed by Donald Rumseld, the Defence Secretary, and President George Bush.

But, in Beirut yesterday, the Iraqi Vice-President, Taha Yassin Ramadan, poked fun at the notion that America would prevail. "We don't want to compare the two; Iraq is not Afghanistan," he said "I believe that the US administration is convinced of that."

Iraq's more defiant statements are primarily aimed at rallying Arab opposition to an American assault. Mr Ramadan added he was working with other Arab governments to forge a common position critical of Washington at a meeting of Arab League ministers next week.

However, Iraq also manoeuvered to take advantage of growing schisms in the EU and even within Britain, the only likely ally of the US in the event of an attack.

Tony Blair faces deepening resistance within his own party to a policy of supporting President Bush. A recent survey showed almost two-thirds of Labour Party constituency leaders are strongly opposed to any such alliance between London and Washington.

Also notable were comments from President Chirac, who called the possibility of unilateral US action "worrying" France and other countries are arguing the US should not act without a fresh UN resolution. Gerhard Schröder, the German Chancellor, urged President Bush to take note of European hesitation. "If consultations are meant seriously, they must not just be about the how and the when but also on the question of whether this is done at all," he said yesterday.

Vice-President Ramadan also peppered his comments this week with hints of Iraq's willingness to pursue a diplomatic solution. He argued that a deadlock between Iraq and the UN on the return to Iraq of UN weapons inspectors was being blocked by Washington. Iraq is seeking new talks on a return of the teams.

"We believe dialogue is still continuing, but the freezing and suspending of it, and the failure to set dates for new sessions, came as a result of pressure by the US administration," Mr Ramadan said.

However President Bush spoke on Thursday about the need to remove the Iraqi leader. He said: "We owe it to our children, we owe it to our grandchildren to make sure that the world's worst leaders do not develop and deploy the world's worst weapons."