The French will step in and take over when we're done winning this war.

Mr Chirac signalled that France would campaign through the United Nations to keep any American or British involvement in the running of postwar Iraq to a minimum.

Just hours after Tony Blair, British prime minister, called for a new UN resolution on the reconstruction of Iraq, Mr Chirac said France would not accept a dominant US and British role in such efforts.

"France will not accept a resolution that would legitimise military intervention and give the US and British the powers of administration in Iraq," he said.

Well Chirac, we'll let you supply the port-a-potties for the Yank, Brit, and Aussie workers rebuilding the country into a real democracy.