London - More than six million protesters took to the streets around the globe on Saturday to send a passionate message to US President George Bush not to invade Iraq and to give peace a chance.
The much-awaited UN weapons inspectors' report on Iraq on Friday highlighted the divisions between major powers on whether and when to launch a war against Baghdad over its suspected banned weapons.
Here is a summary of the main positions on the possibility of military conflict with Iraq:
Who says 'yes' to the war?
Australia: Australia is one of Washington's staunchest allies and has deployed around 2 000 troops to the Middle East.
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Prime Minister Howard said he was not convinced that large crowds at anti-war rallies in the country's major cities were evidence that public opinion was against war.
Britain: Prime Minister Tony Blair, facing huge public opposition to his campaign for military action, tried to make a moral case by referring to Iraqi suffering under Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
London and Washington have stood shoulder-to-shoulder since the September 11 attacks and Blair has reserved the right to follow the United States into war without a fresh resolution, fearing some UN Security Council members would block it.
Israel: Israel has said it would abstain from taking part in any US coalition out of recognition of the "sensitivities" in the region, but reserves the right to respond if attacked.
Italy: Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right government has been a staunch Bush supporter and has backed his tough stance on Iraq. Italy has said to the United States that transport planes bound for the Gulf can use military bases for stopovers and refuelling.
Japan: Although Japan's pacifist constitution bars it from taking an active part in any military action outside its borders, it is expected to find ways to back its most important ally, the United States, in the event of an attack.
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