In an interview with the BBC World Service, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan used the term "illegal" to describe the U.S. decision to go to war in Iraq in March 2003. While Annan's sentiments expressed in the interview did not differ from the views he has previously articulated, his description of the war as "illegal" represents a departure from the more circumspect descriptions offered in the past.
Pressed to state whether he thought the U.S. invasion of Iraq was illegal, Annan said, "Yes, if you wish. I have indicated it was not in conformity with the UN charter from our point of view, from the charter point of view, it was illegal."
Meanwhile, President Bush is scheduled to address the General Assembly of the United Nations next week. The 59th Session of the General Assembly began in New York on Tuesday.
UPDATE: Paul Reynolds of the BBC has an interesting commentary on the significance of individual words in diplomacy that helps to explain why Kofi Annan's characterization of the invasion of Iraq as "illegal" has drawn a sharp reaction from Australian PM John Howard and others even though the Secretary General has made similar (although not identical) comments in the past. In the course of his commentary, Reynolds provides the relevant portion of the interview transcript:
BBC: "So you don't think there was legal authority for the war."
Mr Annan: "I have made it clear, I have stated clearly, that it was not in conformity with the UN Charter."
BBC: "It was illegal."
Mr Annan: "Yes, if you wish."
BBC: "It was illegal."
Mr Annan: "Yes, I've indicated that it was not in conformity with the UN Charter. From our point of view, from the charter point of view, it was illegal."