NEW DELHI, Feb 7: India and France hold a common view on the war clouds looming over Iraq, with both countries very keen to help avert a hurried assault on President Saddam Huseein’s regime, French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin said in New Delhi on Friday.

“I think it is important for India and France to extract a joint message for peace in the (Gulf) region. The positions are extremely similar,” Mr Raffarin told reporters after a ceremonial welcome at the Presidential Palace.

Mr Raffarin, who arrived here on Thursday night from Bangalore after attending the Air Show there, said the two sides will discuss all issues with special emphasis on the fight against terrorism and that the French position is “there is no such thing as a good terrorist.”

An Indian foreign ministry spokesman, responding to United States Secretary of State Colin Powell’s latest address to the United Nations Security Council, said on Thursday that “Iraq has to faithfully comply with provisions of UNSC resolutions. Iraq should also respond to the facts and evidence which have been presented to the UNSC by the US Secretary of State.”

The spokesman said the work of the inspectors is continuing in Iraq and a further report by UNMOVIC and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to the Security Council is scheduled for Feb 14.

“We are sure that the inspectors will take note of and comment on the evidence which has been presented by the US Secretary of State.”

India wants that the Security Council should decide on what further action needs to be taken, the spokesman said.—J.N.