The United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, has said he believes the American-led war on Iraq last year was illegal under the terms of the UN Charter.
He was replying to a question put to him during an interview with BBC radio.
Mr Annan also expressed concern that elections to find a new government for Iraq might not go ahead as planned next January.
He said the escalating violence would make it difficult for Iraq's interim administration to stick to the timetable for the poll.
The Secretary-General said he hoped future global military interventions would have UN approval and much broader support from the international community.
