War will "worsen the suffering of a population already tested by long years of embargoes," stressed the pontiff

VATICAN CITY, February 14 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) – While asking Iraq to fully complies with U.N. resolutions, Pope John Paul II of the Vatican vocalized opposition to any U.S.-waged war on Iraq.

In a statement issued after a meeting between the pontiff and Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz, the Vatican reiterated stressed that military intervention in Iraq would "worsen the suffering of a population already tested by long years of embargoes."

The Vatican also reaffirmed that "the Catholic Church will continue its actions for peace and coexistence between peoples, so that in all circumstances peaceful solutions can be found."

John Paul II has been one of the most vocal opponents of a war on Iraq, and besides meeting Aziz, has sent his trusted envoy Cardinal Roger Etchegaray to Baghdad, where he is still awaiting a meeting with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

The statement underlined that Iraq should "faithfully respect, and give concrete commitments to resolutions of the U.N. Security Council, which is the guarantor of international law."

During his 30-minute audience with the Pope, Aziz pledged his country would cooperate with U.N. weapons inspectors, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

The Iraqi envoy then had a longer meeting with the Vatican's secretary of state, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, and its foreign minister, Monsignor Jean-Louis Tauran.

Aziz's meeting with the pope, his fourth visit to the Vatican, came as chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix prepared to deliver a crucial assessment of Baghdad's cooperation to the U.N. Security Council later Friday.

The Iraqi diplomat, who is a Christian of the Caldean faith which recognizes the authority of the pope, was expected to have talks later Friday with Italy's Foreign Minister Franco Frattini.

Aziz, here to drum up opposition to an attack on Iraq, met with Italian opposition figures on Thursday, February 13.

He was due to meet two former state presidents, Oscar Luigi Scalfaro and Francesco Cossiga, on Friday as well as former prime minister Lamberto Dini.

Aziz will hold a news conference in Rome later on Friday evening to give his response to Blix's new report to the Security Council.

Austria Bars U.S. Troop Movements Across its Territory

Austria, which has a tradition of neutrality, has banned the transit of U.S. troops or military equipment across its territory unless there is a new U.N. Security Council resolution authorizing a war, Defense Minister Herbert Scheibner said Friday.

"If the United Nations gives a new mandate, we will be obliged to review our decision," he said on Austrian state radio.

On Thursday, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld accused Austria, which is not a member of NATO, of creating problems for the movement of U.S. troops which are being readied for a possible war.

The United States has been seeking to move troops from bases in Germany to Italy, from where they could be taken to the Gulf region, and its chosen route was by train through Austria.

Schroeder Hopes UN Adopts German-French-Russian Plan on Iraq

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said Friday he hoped that a common German, French and Russian plan aimed at peacefully resolving the crisis in Iraq would be adopted by the United Nations Security Council.

"I hope that this position, which bets on a peaceful resolution to the Iraqi crisis, will win sufficient support and a majority in the Security Council," Schroeder told a press conference in Berlin.