Le Touquet, France (AP) – British Prime Minister Tony Blair failed Tuesday to persuade France to join a U.S.-led coalition ready to take quick military action against Iraq and its leader Saddam Hussein.
Despite intense pressure by Blair, French President Jacques Chirac said he remained steadfastly opposed to war against Baghdad without giving U.N. weapons inspectors searching for banned weapons as much time they need to do their work.
When asked how much time — weeks or months — weapons inspectors should have, Chirac responded: “I can’t put a timeframe on it. It’s up to them to decide,” Chirac said.
