RETHYMNO (Greece), Oct 4: European Union defence ministers warned on Friday against a US-led war against Iraq without United Nations backing, although splits clearly remained within the 15-member bloc.

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said the issue had to be resolved by the UN Security Council and stressed “regime change” in Baghdad was not the EU’s objective.

“What the European Union has decided is that the place where this has to be resolved is the Security Council. It’s for the members of the Security Council to come to an agreement,” he told a ministerial meeting in Greece.

Solana repeatedly refused to comment on the possibility of unilateral US action, but insisted that the EU did not want regime change.

“Our concern is the weapons of mass destruction and how they can be controlled. But it is not in our objectives at this point regime change,” he said.

The EU is deeply divided over Iraq, with opinions ranging from Germany’s firmly anti-war stance to Britain’s support of the US position.

British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon refused to comment as he arrived late for the informal meeting on the Greek island of Crete, having missed the opening lunch of the two-day gathering.

But German Defence Minister Peter Struck warned that any war against Iraq would have serious political and economic effects worldwide. He said he still hoped the US would soften its tone over Baghdad.

“As beforem there are differing views, especially between my country and the United States of America,” he said.

Belgian Defence Minister Andre Flahaut also warned against military action.

Austrian Defence Minister Herbert Schreibner said: “We have to do all we can to avoid military action because it would be very dangerous for other countries in the region.”

Struck acknowledged that differences remain within the EU.—AFP