As a US-led war loomed in Iraq, the Vatican today declared that anyone who decides that peaceful means under international law are exhausted assumes “grave responsibility before God, his own conscience and history”.

The statement reflected the Vatican’s firm stance against war in Iraq and came hours after US President George Bush gave Iraqi President Saddam Hussein until Wednesday to leave his country or face military attack.

“Whoever decides that all peaceful means available under international law are exhausted assumes a grave responsibility before God, his own conscience and history,” said the one-line statement by Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls.

For weeks Pope John Paul and his top Vatican officials have been speaking out against the possibility of war. The Pope said the use of force is a last resort, after other means of peaceful solution are exhausted.

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