"There wasn't an imminent threat (from Iraq)," former International Development Secretary Clare Short told BBC radio.

"We could have stuck with the Blix's process," she said, in reference to the search led by chief UN arms inspector Hans Blix for evidence in Iraq of weapons of mass destruction.

Blix's team pulled out in late February, when it became clear Britain and the United States intended to attack Iraq whether or not the arms inspectors uncovered such weapons there or whether the United Nations approved the invasion.

"We could have kept the international community together," Short continued. "(French President Jacques) Chirac had made it clear if Blix failed he would say to the UN that war was inevitable. There was no need to rush."

France, Germany and Russia were all vehemently opposed to the invasion of Iraq unless it had the support of the international community.

Short, who resigned on May 12 over the war, was speaking as the United Nations began considering a new resolution on Iraq, proposed by Washington.

Plagued by regular attacks on its troops in Iraq and the rising cost of keeping them there, the administration of US President George W. Bush is now seeking to push a resolution through the UN that would approve the creation of a multinational force in Iraq and give international acceptance to the US-installed Iraqi Governing Council.