The current US-led war on Iraq is a blatant violation of UN resolutions and undermines the role of the world body, Iranian President Mohammad Khatami was quoted by the official IRNA news agency as saying on Thursday.

Speaking to local officials and residents in Kish Island, Hormuzgan province, Khatami said that if the war is not stopped, its consequences would be many times more dangerous than the Vietnam War.

He called on the United Nations and concerned governments in the world to practice global coexistence, peace and justice, adding that the only fruits this war would produce are death of innocent civilians and escalation of extremism and violence.

"When you allow trouble seekers and extremists to use violence, your response will be violence," Khatami said.

"This war is a humiliation and disrespect to the United Nations and I hope the United Nations would come to its senses and take whatever action needed to restore peace and coexistence," he added.

Stressing that no country has the right to determine the fate of another sovereign state, Khatami said Iraq is a sovereign state and its territorial integrity is entitled to be respected and its fate should be decided on the principle of "one country, one vote."

The indiscriminate campaign against weapons of mass destruction worldwide is one-sided, he said, adding that the weapons of mass destruction possessed by the United States and some other countries are sufficient to destroy the entire planet.

(Xinhua News Agency April 3, 2003)