"It's a positive fact that a tyrannical regime has been removed", Putin said, adding that losses, destruction and human deaths "are negative consequences".

One cannot resolve the problem by means of war and "only nations themselves should determine their fate," Putin said.

Putin was speaking at a forum of German and Russian politicians and businessmen on the sidelines of a summit with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and French President Jacques Chirac.

He noted that another negative consequence was that international law has been undermined.

"We must set about restoring this system of values and, together with our partners, including the United States and Britain, work on international law," he stressed.

He also denied that Russia had supported the Saddam regime.

Leaders of Russia, France and Germany are expected to hold three-way meeting on Friday evening in Russia's second largest city of St. Petersburg to coordinate their positions on Iraq by pressing for the central role of the United Nations in the post-war reconstruction of that country.

(Xinhua News Agency April 12, 2003)