LONDON, Feb 22: Pakistan People’s Party Chairperson Benazir Bhutto said on Friday that unless the issue of weapons of mass destruction is addressed, war on Iraq is imminent as United States President George Bush is responding to American public opinion.

“If the issue of weapons of mass destruction is not addressed, the war will take place whether UN operates or not,” she told newsmen on her return from the US.

She said US public opinion was in favour of an attack against Iraq.

Asked how the war could be avoided, she said: “Through honest mediation.”

If the PPP was in power, she claimed, such an initiative would have come from Pakistan but time was running out. But, she said, the issue was weapons of mass destruction, which had to be addressed.

“War against Iraq should be a weapon of last resort,” and Pakistan being a trusted ally of the US should mount efforts to avert it, she said.

She said crisis over Iraq could be averted through mediation and the role of Pakistan, being the second largest Muslim country, was very important in this regard.

She said there might be some peaceful way out of the crisis and referred to the endeavours being made by France and Germany.

American public opinion was for war while the Muslims looked at it as a “crusade “ against them, she said.

Replying to a question about protest against the war, she said the alliance for restoration of Democracy should discuss the issue.

She said she was anti-war but would not join any protest on the issue. “I am opposed to military action but the issue of weapons of mass destruction should be addressed and there should be a collective security system,” she said and added that the UN Security Council should take decisions.—APP