The allegations by certain members of Congress that the US would attack Iraq for political reasons are ``unjust and ill-advised,'' former President Jimmy Carter said. ``Americans may or may not agree that the bombing of Iraq is justified,'' Carter said in a statement. ``(But) allegations by some members of Congress that the President of the United States and his security advisers would launch an attack on Iraq for political purposes are both unjust and ill-advised,'' he said. Carter said it had been clear since early November that military force would be used if Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein violated his international obligations. ``American leaders played no role in the timing of Iraq's violations, which cannot be related to political events in Washington,'' he said.

Butler's career

United Nations weapons inspection chief Richard Butler, never one to shirk controversy or tough decisions, is now facing an uncertain future after triggering the latest assault on Iraq. It isnot a new condition for the 56-year-old Australian diplomat. He is affectionately known within Australia's foreign affairs department as ``the black prince''. Two years ago, he walked away from a 30-year career in the diplomatic service and into what was then a low-profile job as chairman of the UN Special Commission (UNSCOM), the body responsible for locating and destroying Iraq's illegal arsenal.

Now, he has been cited by US President Bill Clinton as the man whose report to the UN formed the basis of the US decision to launch the latest attack on Iraq. Among other things, he has been accused of trying to get Clinton off the hook of impeachment over sex allegations. ``That is utterly wrong,'' he told a news conference in New York. ``That report was based on the experts of UNSCOM. It danced to no-one's tune.'' But Butler's future is now in doubt because Washington no longer believes UN weapons inspections are an effective way to force Iraq to abandon chemical and biological weapons programmes. A dismantlingof UNSCOM could finish Butler.

Mubarak's plea

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak called on US President Bill Clinton to spare the Iraqi people ``more suffering''. Mubarak made the plea after receiving a telephone call from Clinton, the Egyptian news agency MENA said. ``President Moubarak asked him to show restraint and contain the situation to protect the Iraqi people, spare them more suffering and preserve regional stability,'' it said. Egypt was one of eight Arab countries whose support Clinton claimed in a televised address to the American people.