China has urged the United States to halt its military aggression o­n Iraq immediately and advised the superpower to continue searching for a peaceful resolution to the crisis.

The Xinhua news agency quoted a spokesperson for the foreign affairs ministry Kong Quan as saying the military action against Iraq violated UN charter and international law.

In contrast, Japan issued a statement backing the US-led military campaign.

"I understand the start of the use of force by America and support it," said Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in a televised address.