PHOTO – TASR/AP

BRUSSELS – The European Parliament said on Thursday that Iraq‘s behaviour toward U.N. arms inspectors did not justify military action and urged the United States to avoid any unilateral use of force. In a non-binding resolution reflecting unease in Europe at the prospect of looming war, EU lawmakers declared: „Breaches of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1441 currently identified by the inspectors with regard to weapons of mass destruction do not justify military action.“ Lawmakers voted by 287 votes in favour of the resolution and 209 against with 26 abstentions, as their governments wrangled over how far to support President George W. Bush‘s tough line towards Baghdad. The European Parliament resolution said any pre-emptive strike by the United States and its allies would violate international law and lead to a deeper crisis in the region. Earlier on Thursday, eight European leaders including British Prime Minister Tony Blair signed an open letter calling on the peace camp — implicitly France and Germany — to rally to the U.S. standard against Iraq. Reuters