ISLAMABAD, Feb 8: President Pervez Musharraf on Saturday discussed the looming threat of war in Iraq and its likely fallout for the region during a telephone conversation with his French counterpart Jacques Chirac, officials said.

President Musharraf expressed the hope that “all options for a peaceful resolution with regard to the Iraq crisis would be exercised in the present stand off,” according to an official statement.

Gen Musharraf stressed the need to take all measures under the relevant UN resolutions and the need for Iraq to show greater cooperation with UN arms inspectors in order to avert war.

The president “underscored the importance for ensuring the territorial integrity, sovereignty and unity of Iraq and welfare of its people in any eventuality.”

The statement said Mr Chirac expressed France’s views on the Iraq crisis and appreciated Pakistan’s role in the global fight against terrorism.

President Chirac on Friday told US President George W. Bush that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein could be disarmed without war.—AFP