President Thabo Mbeki has reiterated his stance for countries to act within the mandate of the United Nations (UN) with regard to the issue of weapons inspections in Iraq.

Speaking at the 8th Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, this afternoon, President Mbeki said it was critically important that the matter of Iraq was resolved peacefully through the UN and its Security Council.

'We trust that sense will prevail so that no country or combination of countries take it upon themselves to embark on unilateral action against Iraq,' he said, adding that Iraq ought to cooperate fully with the Security Council to resolve all outstanding matters.

President Mbeki's remarks come amid rising tension between Iraq and the United States (US), where the latter has threatened unilateral military action against the Gulf nation following accusations that it developed weapons of mass destruction.

However, international communities have since mounted pressure against the US in condemnation of the move.

Over the weekend President Mbeki, who is also the chairperson of the African Union and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), reportedly wrote a letter to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein commending him for offering UN weapons inspectors unconditional access to his country.

Moreover, President Mbeki called for Palestine and Israel to resume negotiations aimed at ending war between the two nations.

'Every passing day points to the urgent need to end the conflict between the Palestinians and the Israelis, to resume negotiations and afford the Palestinians their right to form their own independent state and secure peace for Israel within internationally recognised boundaries' -BuaNews.