"It's a safe bet Iraq will stay a concern, a worry and a test for the international community for many months and perhaps even years," he said following a meeting with Romanian Foreign Minister Mircea Geoana.

"We need a united international community to confront such tests," de Villepin urged in an allusion to splits caused by the Iraq conflict.

France, Germany and Russia are among leading European nations opposing the US-British war on Iraq, while Britain, Spain and Italy side with Washington.

De Villepin reiterated that France's priorities in the Iraqi crisis were emergency relief aid to the population, a key post-war role for the United Nations, and restoration of Iraqi sovereignty, including respect for its territorial integrity.

Turning to other regional challenges, the French minister also called for unity in finding solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"That emergency goes on every day and we must be able to deal with it too," he said.

SPACE.WIRE