French minister: The United States is too anxious for a fight

The French minister of the Interior has denounced the US attitude towards the current Iraq crisis, stressing that the US desire for war should not be met.

In a statement following a meeting of the French Cabinet on Wednesday the minister said there is something worrying over the development of the situation in Iraq in the aftermath of US President Bill Clinton's recent statements.

"War means a confrontation with the Arab world and that is needless," the French minister said, referring to the importance of giving priority to achieving a peaceful settlement to the Iraq crisis.

Today French President Jaques Chirac gave his support to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan for his meetings in Iraq, after the two met in Paris.