Chirac says Allies acting above 'rule of law' by using force

Jacques Chirac seized the role of leader of the world peace movement yesterday, making a stinging attack on America and Britain for taking an "unjustified", and implicitly illegal, decision to invade Iraq.

Unabashed – or maybe inspired – by the vitriol launched against France from across the Atlantic and the Channel, he read a prepared statement warning that Washington and London would take a "grave" risk if they "cast off the legitimacy of the United Nations" and put the "use of force above the rule of law".

Although President Chirac stopped short, just, of declaring a US-led war illegal, his statement will further enrage George Bush and Tony Blair and deepen the already profound rift in Franco-American and Franco-British relations. M. Chirac made clear that he intended to be a vocal leader of the international opposition to war. The French President spoke on the telephone yesterday with the Russian, Chinese and German leaders, to discuss how to approach the next few days.

However, France also signalled that its attitude to war in Iraq would change radically if President Saddam was to use chemical or biological weapons against American or British troops. Jean-David Levitte, the French ambassador to Washington – expanding on comments made a few days ago by Dominique de Villepin, the Foreign Minister, – said: "I can confirm that that would completely change our perception of the situation."

M. Chirac said in his statement: "There is no justification for a unilateral decision to go to war ... Iraq does not today pose the kind of immediate threat which could justify an immediate war."

Although the disarmament of Baghdad was "necessary" and the toppling of President Saddam was "desirable", M. Chirac said, the United Nations inspections system had showed there was a "credible alternative" to military action.

"To cast off the legitimacy of the United Nations, and put the use of force above the rule of law is to assume a heavy responsibility ... France appeals to everyone to respect international law."

M. Chirac rejected American and British arguments that France was responsible for the refusal of the UN Security Council to approve a war resolution. France's opposition to war was "shared by the great majority of the international community", he said, adding: "The final rounds of debate clearly showed that the Security Council was not in the mood, in present circumstances, to approve a rushed move towards war."

Earlier, a formal, written statement from the Elysée Palace said President Bush's war ultimatum ran "against the will of the international community". Only the Security Council had the power to authorise war in the name of the UN, the statement said.

This was tantamount to accusing America and Britain of planning a crime against international law, but France has stopped short of declaring an invasion illegal – in so many words – at this stage. Such a statement might imply that France planned to take its rearguard action against the war back to the Security Council or even to the International Court in The Hague. French officials said there were no such plans at this stage. Opposition to the war would remain verbal and voluble.

At some stage, France recognises that it has to begin the process of rebuilding relations with America and Britain and within the European Union and Atlantic alliance. Whatever the legality of the war, Paris is convinced that Washington will eventually have to return to the international community, including France, to fund and organise the reconstruction and management of post-war Iraq.