British Prime Minister Tony Blair is set to go to Brussels later Thursday afternoon to attend a two-day EU summit which Straw said would be "dominated by (the issue of) Iraq."

Straw told reporters that Britain, as the firmest ally of the United States over the war on Iraq, would take efforts to bring "the European community to come together and recognize that we have a common agenda, working for the humanitarian relief of Iraq and its reconstruction."

"Europe is much more effective when it is united than when it is divided," he said.

The Iraq dispute has split the EU down the middle and made a mockery of its dream of a common foreign policy.

Straw claimed that as many as 14 among the 15 EU members and 10other countries which are to officially join the EU next year backed the attacks aimed at toppling Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. This, he noted, represented "wide international support."

Meanwhile, he insisted the only method to disarm Saddam was by military actions.

"We have been left no option but to use force" to disarm Saddam, Straw claimed.

He added that Britain wanted to end Iraqi civilians' suffering, saying the British government had initially committed 20 million pounds (31 million US dollars) for immediate humanitarian relief.

Britain would prepare 60 million pounds more (93 million dollars) for further humanitarian operations, he said.

"We are with you, We support you," Straw told Iraqis.

His remarks came at the end of Blair's emergency cabinet meeting focusing on the ongoing attacks in Iraq.

Earlier in the day, British Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon said the first wave of raids had only prepared the way for a major offensive which would begin "very shortly."

Downing Streets confirmed that Blair was woken just after midnight and given two hours notice about the timing of the strikes.

Blair's office now said there were no plans for Blair to make any statement at present, while adding that "events can change this."

(Xinhua News Agency March 20, 2003)