"We not only mourn the dead, but also anguish for the living, especially for the children (in Iraq)," UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in a speech to open the debate.

A total of 62 UN member states will take the floor to air their views on the war, which was launched on March 19 by the United States without prior UN approval.

The meeting was called at the request of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Arab League.

Iraqi Ambassador to the UN Mohammed Aldouri will also deliver a speech at the meeting, which is expected to extend into Thursday due to the long list of speakers.

(Xinhua News Agency March 27, 2003)