Putin warns US against unilateral attack on Iraq
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned against US military action against Iraq, and said only the UN Security Council could sanction any attack.
In an interview Putin called his nation’s partnership with the US the key to stability in the world.
The two powers have reached a ‘‘new level of trust,’’ he said.
‘‘This trust allows us, despite any differences or arguments on specific issues, to avoid confrontation,’’ Putin said.
Putin has been an enthusiastic supporter of the anti-terror campaign in Afghanistan led by US President George Bush.
However, Russia is Iraq’s closest ally in the UN Security Council, and Moscow has frequently tried to end the UN sanctions that were imposed after Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990 and has protested against US and British air strikes.
Putin also objected to Bush’s inclusion of Iraq, Iran and North Korea in what Bush called an ‘‘axis of evil’’ in his January 29 State of the Union speech.
Numerous US officials have suggested Iraq could be next on the list of countries to be attacked in the anti-terrorism campaign.
‘‘We oppose the drawing up of black lists,’’ Putin said. He admitted Iraq presented a ‘‘problem,’’ but said: ‘‘Such problems cannot be solved by one country alone.’’
