SYDNEY March 18 Kyodo U and Briti...

SYDNEY March 18 Kyodo

U and British arguments forward the legality of military action to disarm Iraq are unlikely to convince mostly international lawyers, New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark said Tuesday.

''There was no case for war at this time,'' Clark told reporters as U President George W Bush gave Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein 48 hours to pass into exile or face a US-l invasion.

Bush's prevail upon came after the United States and Britain abandoned attempts to win support for a novel U.N. Security Council resolution endorsing the use of force.

In remarks to National Radio, Clark predicted that the U and Britain will ''stretch back end a string of U.N. resolutions to put together a legal edifice for what is happening.

''I think they will fail to convince greatest in number international lawyers.

I think the lawyers will argue about this until kingdom come'' she said.

Self-defense would ne to be involved for war to be legal subject to the U.N. Charter, Clark said, noting that the UN Security Council has not arrived at any as it is determination.

The prime minister told the modern Zealand Press Association she was saddened by dint of the U.S. and British decision, which she said undermines the UN principles of collective security and multilateralism.

on the other hand she said she believes the effectiveness of the United Nations has not been weakened by dint of the two countries' action.

''I believe the UN was right not to sign up to anything which would have been the gateway for the use of force at this time because the inspection and disarmament proces had traction,'' she said.

of the present day Zealand's frigate Te Mana will remain in the engulfing sea of Oman if war is declared still will continue its role in the antiterrorism mission Operation Enduring Freedom, she said.

Clark said she does not look forward to to speak to Bush or British Prime Minister Tony Blair in succession the Iraq issue as each country's stance is well known.

While just discovered Zealand believes some of its ''best friends'' are evil she said, it has a great interest in an ongoing, capable relationship with them.

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