BEIJING -- UN weapons inspections in Iraq should not be subject to deadlines, an official Chinese newspaper said Wednesday, slamming U.S. reactions to this week's report by inspectors as "arrogant and impatient."

"The inspections in Iraq should not be hampered by deadlines," a commentary in the English-language ***China Daily*** said. "It must be allowed to continue free from false political pressures."

As one of the five permanent veto-wielding members of the UN Security Council, China is a crucial player in the Iraq impasse. It has yet to weigh in, however, on the length of time the inspectors should be allowed to complete their task.

The comments came two days after chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix presented a report on the first 60 days on inspections in Iraq, which said his staff had found no banned weapons but criticized Baghdad for not being more cooperative.

The immediate U.S. response was that time was running out for inspections, setting the stage for a likely military strike. "U.S. officials' arrogant and impatient reactions are hardly surprising," the ***China Daily*** said. "To Washington, January 27 was irrelevant."

Vlearer proof was needed before any country embarked on the "risky and irreversible course" of war, the commentary argued.

"The United States could, on its own, attack Iraq -- but that does not mean it has the right," it said. "Unilateral decisions followed by unilateral military action would severely damage the United Nations and international law."

The paper expressed optimism that war could be averted if the weapons inspectors are given enough time to complete their work.

"With inspections only eight weeks old, the case is for continuation, not cancellation," it said. "Progress has been made, and there are reasons to hope that there could be much more."

Iraq also needs to cooperate with the weapons inspectors, the paper added.

"The clarity of Blix's report should leave Iraq in no doubt about what it must do next," it said.

China has in recent days boosted its rhetoric over Iraq, and President Jiang Zemin said Sunday the crisis must be solved peacefully and within the framework of the Security Council. China's Foreign Ministry Tuesday urged patience from the United States, insisting inspectors be given more time to complete their work. (AFP)