PM, Howard beg to differ on military action

By JOHN ARMSTRONG political editor

New Zealand and Australia appear to have agreed to disagree over the sanctioning of military action against Iraq.

Prime Minister Helen Clark rang her counterpart, John Howard, yesterday ahead of her departure for a whirlwind visit to Melbourne where she will deliver the keynote speech to a trade union conference.

She will not see Mr Howard, but has a meeting scheduled with Labour Opposition leader Simon Crean.

Mr Crean has strongly criticised Mr Howard's backing of the hard line taken by the United States against Baghdad and the deployment of Australian troops to the Gulf.

New Zealand opposes unilateral military action, arguing that any attack must first be sanctioned by the United Nations.

Helen Clark said she and Mr Howard - who has just returned home after high-level talks in Washington and London - had discussed Iraq and Commonwealth policy on Zimbabwe.

Asked whether Mr Howard had expressed disappointment at New Zealand's position on Iraq, she said he had not. "And I didn't express any disappointment that they held a different position from us."

* A One News-Colmar Brunton poll has found 71 per cent of respondents believe the US has not produced enough evidence to justify war.

Herald feature: Iraq