LONDON, Feb 20: The leaders of Britain’s two major Christian churches on Thursday joined growing public opposition to military action against Iraq, urging more time for UN weapons inspections and voicing doubt about Prime Minister Tony Blair’s moral argument for war.

Their outspoken comments came as Blair prepared to hold a private audience in Rome on Saturday with Pope John Paul II, who is strongly opposed to a war.

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, the spiritual leader of the world’s 70 million Anglicans, and Archbishop of Westminster Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, the head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, said they believed continued weapons inspections could render a military strike unnecessary.

“War is always a deeply disturbing prospect; one that can never be contemplated without a sense of failure and regret that other means have not prevailed, and deep disquiet about all that may come in its train,” they said in a joint statement.

“The events of recent days show that doubts still persist about the moral legitimacy, as well as the unpredictable humanitarian and political consequences, of a war with Iraq.”

They also urged Iraq “to demonstrate forthwith its unequivocal compliance with UN resolutions on weapons of mass destruction.”

Their comments come after a week in which Blair has repeatedly argued what he called “the moral case” for removing Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

On Thursday, Blair discussed by telephone the latest Iraq situation with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar.

It followed a lengthy telephone conversation late Wednesday between Blair and US President George W. Bush — the contents of which were not disclosed.—AFP