The leaders, agreeing that Iraq should be disarmed, urged Baghdad to comply "fully and immediately" with the United Nations resolutions, or face serious consequences.

The inspections cannot go on "indefinitely" and Iraq is facing a last chance to disarm, the leaders warned in a joint statement aimed at bridging the gap among EU members.

"War is not inevitable," they said. "Force should only be used as a last resort. It is for the Iraqi regime to end this crisis by complying with the demands of the (UN) Security Council."

"We reiterate our full support for the ongoing work of the UN inspectors. However, inspections cannot continue indefinitely in the absence of full Iraqi cooperation."

"Baghdad should have no illusions. It must disarm and cooperate immediately and fully. The Iraqi regime alone will be responsible for the consequences if it continues to flout the will of the international community," the leaders said in a statement.

However, the EU leaders failed to agree on how long they should wait before Iraq fully cooperates.

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder told reporters after the meeting that the EU has adopted a compromise resolution on Iraq that omitted a warning that "time is rapidly running out" at German insistence.

Speaking to reporters after addressing the meeting, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan echoed EU's position, saying that Iraq war is not inevitable.

He said that what is most needed at present stage is cooperation and constant pressure.

Stressing the legitimacy of the UN Security Council, Annan said," It is up to the UN Security Council to decide if Iraq is in material breach of UN Resolution 1441 and that decision has not taken by the council."

He said the international community shared the view that Iraq must be disarmed and it should be done immediately. Otherwise, Iraq may face serious consequences, he added.

He said that weapons inspections are continuing and that it is too early to prejudge the possible outcome.

Meanwhile, Anna said that the international community should be prepared for the humanitarian situation in Iraq in case a war breaks out. "We do not want to be caught unprepared," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency February 18, 2003)