Clark supports UN force only

By JOHN ARMSTRONG political editor

The Prime Minister is ruling out contributing personnel to a United States-organised peacekeeping force operating in Iraq after the war.

As a result, the likelihood of New Zealand joining a peacekeeping force in postwar Iraq appears to be diminishing.

Helen Clark said New Zealand would be "delighted" to be part of any United Nations peacekeeping operation.

But at present it appeared unlikely that the UN would be undertaking that role.

An alternative United States-commanded force would not fit New Zealand's definition of peacekeeping, she said.

"At the moment, beyond humanitarian relief, it is not clear what role the UN will be able to play."

The Cabinet discussed the Iraq war at its weekly meeting yesterday, but concentrated on what should happen at the end stage of the conflict.

Helen Clark said New Zealand wanted the United Nations actively involved at that stage in the reconstruction of Iraq and the distribution of humanitarian aid.

With an estimated 300,000 to 400,000 displaced people on the move in northern Iraq and food shortages across the country, she understood the UN would this week launch a broad appeal for assistance.

New Zealand has already given $3.3 million to emergency humanitarian relief in Iraq.

Helen Clark said New Zealand would not take more refugees as a result of the conflict.

"We haven't considered varying the annual total of quota refugees.

"We're not considering increasing either our quota intake or changing criteria ... Our expectation would be that at the end of the war probably Iraq would be in a better position to take people home."