The European Union rejected a war on Iraq without the backing of the United Nations Tuesday and said weapons inspectors must have time to do their job. Prime Minister Costas Simitis of Greece, EU president until the end of June, said a war would harm peace and stability in the Middle East. Speaking after a meeting with visiting Romanian Prime Minister Adrian Nastase, Simitis said: "We both estimate that peace (in Iraq) must be preserved. We both believe a conflict will result in delaying many developments and is a conflict that will not benefit stability and peace in the region." Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou, who plans to lead an EU mission to the Middle East at the end of January in a bid to avert war, said there was no need for a conflict if Iraq cooperated with weapons inspectors.

President Bush spelled out the United States' readiness to attack Iraq soon, dismissing calls from Europe, Russia and the Middle East Tuesday to give President Saddam Hussein more time to disarm.

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