PARIS, March 19: President Jacques Chirac told his council of ministers on Wednesday that “all that’s left now is to resolve ourselves to a war which will arrive in the next few days.”

Mr Chirac was also reported to have reiterated to his ministers his declaration of Sunday night on CBS in which he said that “now that the war is upon us, let’s get it over with as rapidly as possible.”

He noted that “I just hope that what happens won’t be as bad as I expect.”

When he had originally made that statement last weekend, it was to warn of the possibility that the US attack would likely bring about in its wake the precise opposite of what it seeks to halt — that is, the proliferation of terrorism not only in the Middle East, but elsewhere around the world.

Although he would not go into detail as to what will be France’s next step Mr Chirac is known to have assured intimates that France will not take part in the war, except if ever President Saddam Hussein makes use of chemical or biological weapons.

Mr Chirac recently made it clear to his defence minister, Michele Alliot-Marie, that “if Iraq should commit the irreparable and make use of arms of massive destruction against the US and British troops, then we will send forces to the front,” which is why an estimated 10,000 French troops have been made ready for a possible intervention, with some of them already on board the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, which last week secretly made its way to the eastern Mediterranean where it is presently awaiting instructions off the Island of Crete.