BAGHDAD - Qatar has joined other Arab countries in opposing a possible U.S. military attack against Iraq to oust the government of President Saddam Hussein.

Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr al-Thani said his visit to Baghdad, which ended on Tuesday, was aimed at averting a "catastrophe," in clear reference to looming U.S. threats of military action to oust Saddam.

"We are of course against any military action," he told reporters on Monday.

U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney on Monday cited mortal danger to the United States from Iraqi weapons of mass destruction falling into the hands of terrorists, and said: "The risk of inaction is far greater than the risk of action."

Al-Thani said Washington had not asked Qatar to provide military facilities to U.S. troops to attack Iraq.

"America has not yet asked us to provide new military facilities or informed us that it is intended to launch a military action (against Iraq)," he said.

Qatar hosts a U.S. military base, which Washington is upgrading, prompting speculation it could be used as a launch pad for attacks on Iraq.

Copyright 2002 Reuters Ltd

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