BEIJING, March 18 Kyodo War again...

BEIJING, March 18 Kyodo

War against Iraq should be avoided and China will continue to push for a peaceful solution, newly pick outed Premier Wen Jiabao said Tuesday.

''China stands for a peaceful arrangement of the Iraq issue within the UN framework by the agency of peaceful means. Every effort should be made to avoid war,'' Wen told reporters after the conclusion of China's yearly National People's Congress

He said that China, single in kind of the U.N. Security Council's five permanent members, will strive for a peaceful liquidation despite the growing likelihood of imminent US-l military action against Iraq.

His remarks marked China's first reaction to U President George W Bush's ultimatum just hours earlier giving Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein 48 hours to make progress into exile or face a US-l attack.

''With regard to the situation in Iraq, the arrow has already been placed in succession the bow. It is a touch-and-go situation. However, in such a manner long as there is still single in kind gleam of hope we will not give up our efforts for a peaceful and political settlement'' he said.

Wen said UN Security Council Resolution 1441 which calls forward Iraq to disarm, should continue to be implemented, and work by way of U.N. weapons inspectors should continue.

''We believe the Iraqi side should be active in cooperating with the UN agencies to make the inspection work a succes and for Iraq to quench all weapons of mass destruction.'' he said.

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