Foreign Ministers
Met to discuss UN involvement in post-war Iraq
The British Prime Minister has said a post-war Iraq would be run by Iraqis, and not by British or Americans.
In an open letter to the people of Iraq, which will be handed out by British troops, posted on websites and sent out by e-mail, Tony Blair also said UK troops would not stay in the country any longer than necessary.
Mr Blair has appointed the Labour Party chairman and former Northern Secretary John Reid as his leader in parliament. He replaces Robin Cook, who resigned last month in opposition to a war on Iraq without UN backing.
The foreign ministers of France, Germany and Russia, the three countries, which led opposition to the invasion of Iraq, met in Paris today to discuss the UN's involvement in the country's post-war reconstruction.
The meeting followed yesterday's visit to Brussels by the US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, who met NATO and EU foreign ministers.
UN in Umm Qasr mission
UN officials have entered Iraq from Kuwait to assess the state of food and water supplies in the port of Umm Qasr.
The delegation will also check on sanitation and on the state of health services in the town and surrounding areas.
The 12 officials are the first UN staff to enter Iraq since just before the start of the war.
