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Europe, Russia angry over U.S. decision

BRUSSELS DEC. 11. The European Foreign Affairs chief on Thursday called the U.S. decision to bar opponents of the war in Iraq from reconstruction contracts "gratuitous and unhelpful" when unity was needed.

But the White House said the ban was not up for reconsideration, though it told critics the Bush administration "will welcome the opportunity to talk to them and explain to them about why this decision was made."

``This is a gratuitous and extremely unhelpful decision at a time when there is a general recognition of the need for the international community to work together for stability and reconstruction in Iraq," Chris Patten, the European Union's Commissioner for international relations, said.

Critics said the U.S. decision could complicate American efforts to restructure Iraq's estimated $125 billion debt, largely owed to France, Germany, Russia.

Russia signalled it would take a hard line on restructuring. "Iraq's debt to the Russian Federation comes to $8 billions and as far as the Russian Government's position on this, it is not planning any kind of a write-off of that debt," the Defence Minister, Sergei Ivanov, said.

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