MANILA, Sept 13: China’s number-two leader Li Peng said here on Friday that the United States must seek approval from the United Nations before taking any military action against Iraq.

“We believe fighting terrorism should be conducted under the leadership of the United Nations,” Li said at a news conference in Manila, where he is on a four-day official visit.

China is one of five countries, along with the United States, Britain, France and Russia, with veto powers in the UN Security Council.

“We rely on the United Nations to fight terrorism and certainly all kinds of counter-terrorism activities must go through the necessary procedures of the United Nations.”

Li, the chairman of China’s legislature, the National People’s Congress, said: “At the same time we also urge the Iraqi side to abide by the UN resolutions and restore the inspections for weapons of mass destruction in that country.”

In an address to the UN General Assembly on Thursday, US President George W. Bush gave the United Nations a final chance to confront the “grave and gathering danger” Iraq poses, warning that US “action will be unavoidable” otherwise.

POWELL: US Secretary of State Colin Powell on Friday said he would urge the UN Security Council to draft a “very tough” resolution on Iraq, complete with a deadline for Baghdad’s compliance.