Asked about possible roles for France and Russia in the post-war reconstruction of Iraq, Hewitt said: "That will clearly have to be discussed both within the United Nations, as the role of the UN is made clear, and by the interim administration and then subsequently by the new Iraqi administration."

She added: "I must say if I were an Iraqi minister in the new Iraqi government, I think I would personally take a poor view of companies that have been breaking UN sanctions and supporting Saddam's vile regime.

"But that is a matter for the Iraqi people to judge and a matter, also in this interim period, for discussion with the UN," Hewitt added.

Meanwhile, British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon was asked Monday in parliament if he had any evidence of recent breaking of sanctions by French or Russian defence companies.

"I'm not in the position to comment at this stage about possible breaches of any sanctions. But certainly it is a matter that we continue to look at carefully," Hoon replied, without giving further details.

Sanctions were imposed on Iraq after its invasion of Kuwait in 1990. They were partially lifted with the setting up of an oil-for-food programme, but a ban on arms imports continued.

SPACE.WIRE