At a UN Security Council open debate Monday, many participants,including the foreign ministers of France and Germany, called for the world body to play a key role in meeting humanitarian needs, building peace and reconstructing economy in post-war Iraq.

Before the speakers took the floor, top UN weapons inspector Hans Blix outlined a future work program for inspectors who have already withdrawn from Iraq Tuesday.

"We are meeting here today a few hours before the weapons sound," French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin told the ministerial meeting, the fifth of its kind this year.

He was referring to a US ultimatum for Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to leave his country or face a US-led invasion. The ultimatum is due to expire at 8:00 pm EST Wednesday (0100 GMT Thursday).

Warning the military action could feed terrorism in Middle East,de Villepin said it is now the time for the international community to recover its unity to address the consequences of sucha conflict.

"As always, war brings with it its share of victims, suffering and displaced people," he said. "So it is a matter of urgency to prepare now to provide the requisite humanitarian assistance. This imperative must prevail over our differences."

France will take its full part in the collective effort to assist the Iraqi people and the oil-for-food program must be continued under the authority of the Security Council with the necessary adjustments, he emphasized.

On peace-building in Iraq, he said, "No country by itself has the means to build Iraq's future. In particular, no state can claim the necessary legitimacy."

"It is from the United Nations alone that the legal and moral authority can come for such an undertaking."

By the same token, he added, it is for the United Nations to set out the framework for economic reconstruction in post-conflictIraq.

De Villepin's appeals were echoed by his German counterpart, Joschka Fischer, and other speakers.

"Germany is convinced that the United Nations and the Security Council must continue to play the central role in the Iraq conflict," Fischer said in his address. "This is crucial to world order and must continue to be the case in future."

"Our task now is to do everything we possibly can to avert a humanitarian disaster," he stressed.

Pakistani Ambassador to the UN Munir Akram told the council that the suspension of the oil-for-food program and the beginning of hostilities could lead to a humanitarian crisis.

"Pakistan would do everything possible to ameliorate the suffering of the people of Iraq," he said, urging the council to meet its duty to restore peace and security and prevent suffering of the people in Iraq and the region.

In his speech to the gathering, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annanappealed for international assistance for the Iraqis in case of war.

He said the Iraqi people had already suffered a lot under more than a decade of debilitating sanctions.

"In the short term, the conflict that is now clearly about to start can only make things worse -- perhaps much worse," Annan warned.

"I am sure all members of this council will agree that we must do everything we can to mitigate this imminent disaster, which would easily lead to epidemics and starvation."

The UN chief also reminded the United States of its responsibility for protecting civilians when launching military attack against Iraq.

"Under international law, the responsibility for protecting civilians in conflict falls on the belligerents," he said. "In anyarea under military occupation, responsibility for the welfare of the population falls on the occupying power."

The council debate only brought together foreign ministers from Russia, Germany, France, Syria and Guinea. US Secretary of State Colin Powell and his British counterpart Jack Straw skipped the event.

The council is expected to move behind closed doors to discuss a US-sponsored draft resolution on Iraq's humanitarian assistance and Annan's proposals for future oil-for-food program, which has been a life-line for Iraq.

(Xinhua News Agency March 20, 2003)