UNITED NATIONS, Feb 14: Mr Munir Akram, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations, called on Friday for more time for the UN weapons inspectors, saying “every effort should be exhausted” for a peaceful resolution of the Iraq crisis.

Addressing the UN Security Council, Mr Akram said the “decision to use force was not an easy one”, particularly for Pakistan which “has stakes in the region”.

He appealed to the Iraqi leadership to demonstrate complete and total compliance with the UN resolution 1441 for the well-being of the Iraqi people and to end their suffering.

There should be complete consensus among the Security Council members on the use of force, he further said, and appealed to Iraq to provide immediate active and unconditional cooperation and actively participate in this process.