Ghana not identified in 45 nations backing war

WASHINGTON - The United States yesterday claimed the support of 45 countries for its war on Iraq, which could start as early as tonight after Saddam Hussein rejected George W. Bush's demand that he leave the country within 48 hours.

The list of countries supporting war includes 15 that do not want to be publicly identified, a U.S. State Department official said.

The 30 identified are: Afghanistan, Albania, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Hungary, Italy, Japan (post conflict), South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, Britain, Uzbekistan.

Colin Powell, the U.S. Secretary of State, unveiled the slate of supporters as Washington strove to show it is not isolated after failing to win the backing of the UN Security Council for a war.

Although only Britain has committed a sizeable military force, Mr. Powell said 45 nations have joined the U.S.-led alliance.

"We now have a coalition of the willing that includes some 30 nations who publicly said they could be included in such a listing," Mr. Powell said. "And there are 15 other nations, for one reason or another, who do not wish to be publicly named but will be supporting the coalition."

Mr. Boucher, the State Department spokesman, said the published list includes all those that want to be publicly associated with the idea that Iraq has to be disarmed now, whether or not they are providing any assistance to the U.S. war effort.

No Arab countries are on the public list of 30, although several Persian Gulf states, including Kuwait and Qatar, are helping the war effort by allowing U.S. troops on to their territory and may be among the secretive 15 allies.

Turkey was also included on the list of 30, although its parliament is still considering whether to allow U.S. troops to use its territory to open a second front against Iraq, a decision it could make as early as today.

WASHINGTON - The United States yesterday claimed the support of 45 countries for its war on Iraq, which could start as early as tonight after Saddam Hussein rejected George W. Bush's demand that he leave the country within 48 hours.

The list of countries supporting war includes 15 that do not want to be publicly identified, a U.S. State Department official said.

The 30 identified are: Afghanistan, Albania, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Hungary, Italy, Japan (post conflict), South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, Britain, Uzbekistan.

Colin Powell, the U.S. Secretary of State, unveiled the slate of supporters as Washington strove to show it is not isolated after failing to win the backing of the UN Security Council for a war.

Although only Britain has committed a sizeable military force, Mr. Powell said 45 nations have joined the U.S.-led alliance.

"We now have a coalition of the willing that includes some 30 nations who publicly said they could be included in such a listing," Mr. Powell said. "And there are 15 other nations, for one reason or another, who do not wish to be publicly named but will be supporting the coalition."

Mr. Boucher, the State Department spokesman, said the published list includes all those that want to be publicly associated with the idea that Iraq has to be disarmed now, whether or not they are providing any assistance to the U.S. war effort.

No Arab countries are on the public list of 30, although several Persian Gulf states, including Kuwait and Qatar, are helping the war effort by allowing U.S. troops on to their territory and may be among the secretive 15 allies.

Turkey was also included on the list of 30, although its parliament is still considering whether to allow U.S. troops to use its territory to open a second front against Iraq, a decision it could make as early as today.