Not Your Sweetie

France wants Bush at "life or death" Iraq vote
By Sophie Louet

PARIS, March 8 (Reuters) - France on Saturday reinforced its call for President
George W. Bush to attend next week's United Nations vote on war against Iraq,
insisting leaders take personal responsibility for a "life or death" decision.

The move came as Paris said it was sending Foreign Minister Dominique de
Villepin on a whistle-stop tour of three African states from Sunday to urge them to
reject a U.S.-backed draft resolution setting a March 17 deadline for Iraq to
disarm.

"When you decree life or death, it should be done at the highest level of
responsibility," a source close to President Jacques Chirac said of a vote on a new
resolution expected next Tuesday or soon after.

"Given the importance of the decision, it seems legitimate that it is taken by
heads of state and government," the Elysee Palace source said.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said he did not see a need for Bush to attend,
after Villepin floated the idea on Friday.