U.S. Asian allies not in one voice over stand on Iraq

U.S. Asian allies not in one voice over stand on Iraq

Agence France-Presse, Singapore/Manila

Two staunch supporters of the United States in Southeast Asia region, Singapore and the Philippine, took different preliminary stance over the possible U.S. attack on Iraq.

Singapore, a staunch supporter of the U.S.-led war on terror, was keeping silent on Monday on whether it would support U.S. military action against Iraq.

While the Philippines officials confirmed that American warplanes and vessels may land, dock, refuel or conduct flyovers of the Philippines should the U.S. decide to attack Iraq.

Although the war rhetoric from Washington was growing louder, Singapore Defense Minister Tony Tan said the question of a U.S. attack on Iraq remained hypothetical.

Singapore would only state its stand when an attack occurs, he told Channel NewsAsia in an interview to be aired on Monday night.

The Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople stressed that while Manila was "not endorsing any war", it had earlier made a commitment to help the U.S. government in its global war on terrorism.

"There is no request from the United States, but the president said the offer for overflights if required still stands," Ople told reporters.

As U.S. President George W. Bush prepares to put the U.S. case against Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein to the UN General Assembly, and Washington attempts to whip up international support for a possible military campaign, there has so far been little backing from Southeast Asia.

Predominantly Muslim Malaysia, and the world's largest Muslim nation Indonesia, are opposed to any strike, while the Philippines, with a large Muslim population in the south, said it would want any action to be under UN auspices.

Any U.S. strike would have an impact on Islamic societies "including those in Southeast Asia," Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told reporters, but adding it was "too premature to say" if the U.S. would attack Iraq.

"Iraq is not abiding by the United Nations Security Council's inspections, especially with regard to weapons of mass destruction. It is a serious problem, and could affect the world's security," Lee told reporters on Sunday.

He raised two possible outcomes of an attack. A swift operation that "solves the problem and tensions ease", and the alternative, less neat scenario where "oil prices will go up, costs will rise and the economy will be affected."

The Philippines Foreign Undersecretary Franklin Ebdalin said the U.S. government however should first satisfy the international community that an attack on Iraq is connected to its anti-terror campaign before American forces are allowed to use Philippine facilities.

"If the attack on Iraq is part of the anti-terrorism campaign ... we could accommodate their request," he said. "We have to see the connection on terrorism."

Ople maintained Manila supports a diplomatic solution to the Iraq-U.S. row, but noted that the Philippines has been a long- time military ally of the U.S. in the Southeast Asian region.