Paris opposes toppling Saddam Hussein by means of force

Paris announced on Thursday its opposition to the attempts made by Washington to topple the Iraqi President Saddam Hussein by means of force. An option stated to have been accepted by several regional sides.

In an interview with the International Herald Tribune, the French minister of defense Allen Richard said many of Washington's allies might not support the launching of strikes at Iraq in the context of expanding the American military act to fighting terrorism.

Richard said there will be a vast negative reaction among the allies of the US if the administration of President George Bush will try to topple the regime of the Iraqi President by means of military force.

The French defense minister explained "what so ever the result the US has to evaluate the possible changes in its alliances with other several states."