British defence minister says Parliament may not be consulted before first attack on Iraq

AFP via Babelfish translation ^ | December 18, 2002

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London could attack Iraq without consulting the Parliament

Wednesday December 18, 2002 - 8h30 GMT

LONDON, 18 déc (AFP) - the United Kingdom could launch a possible operation to Iraq without consulting as a preliminary the British Parliament "not to reveal the moment of such an attack in advance", declared Wednesday the British Minister for Defense Geoff Hoon.

"In the possibility of a military action, we would not like to necessarily reveal the moment of such a military attack in advance", affirmed with the BBC (radio) Mr. Hoon.

"It would clearly not be with our advantage", said Mr. Hoon, who was questioned on a declaration of the Minister for the Relations with the Parliament, Robin Cook, according to whom it would be "inconceivable" to act militarily without the agreement of the Parliament.

Mr. Hoon insisted on the need "for guaranteeing the safety of our troops if a military action became necessary" while adding that it wished if possible "to respect the right of the House of Commons to have a debate on such a significant question".

The British Minister for Defense moreover ensured that in the event of violation licenses by Iraq of the Council Resolution of safety of UNO, the United Kingdom did not need "not a specific authorization of the Security Council" to take part in a military action.

"It is in the prerogatives of each member of the Security Council to make such decisions", affirmed Mr. Hoon, while adding: "let us not be we there". "Iraq has always the choice to choose a disarmament" and to thus avoid a conflict, has it says.

The English press reported Wednesday that the British government intends to send a task force in Iraq in the next weeks, although it insisted on the fact that no decision for a military action against president Saddam Hussein had been made at this stage.

According to the press, some 40.000 soldiers belonging to the Army, Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force, as well as a hundred tanks, will constitute the British participation in the coalition carried out by the United States and strong on the whole of more than 250.000 men.

This coalition would be likely to enter in action at the latest at the end of the next month, according to Independent (center-left).