Chemical war would turn NZ

By AUDREY YOUNG

Prime Minister Helen Clark indicated yesterday that the Government, like France, would reverse its opposition to the United States-led war against Iraq if Iraq used biological or chemical weapons in the conflict.

She suggested such a change would be in the context of the Security Council having to reconsider and endorse force to disarm Iraq.

Answering questions in Parliament, Helen Clark said: "The New Zealand Government is totally opposed the use of biological weapons.

"The UN Security Council in our view would almost certainly regard that as a situation where force would need to be used under Article 42 [one of the measures in the charter to maintain or restore international peace and security] ."

Helen Clark said New Zealand's opposition to military action against Iraq had been on the basis that it was unilateral - without the sanction of the Security Council.

"The use by any nation of chemical or biological weapons would almost certainly be regarded as a breach of international peace and security, and as such the Security Council would be bound to address how to restore international peace and security."

Greens co-leader Rod Donald said an invasion was "the single most-likely event to cause Iraq to use chemical or biological weapons if it had them", and therefore anyone opposed to the use of these weapons should oppose the war.

* Article 42: Should the Security Council consider that measures provided for in Article 41 [non-military measures] would be inadequate or have proved to be inadequate, it may take such action by air, sea or land forces as may be necessary to maintain or restore international peace and security. Such action may include demonstrations, blockade and other operations by air, sea or land forces of members of the United Nations.

Herald Feature: Iraq