"The national executive of the BJP deplores the unjustified military action resorted to by the United States, Britain and their allies against Iraq," a resolution passed by 166 party delegates here said.

"The national executive resolves that war be immediately brought to an end (and) the parties concerned seek a peaceful, political solution within the framework of the United Nations."

It added the sovereignty of Iraq must be preserved and the rights of the people of Iraq to choose their political future be respected.

The national executive, the party's highest policymaking body, is meeting in Indore to discuss domestic political challenges and the Iraq situation.

The meeting, chaired by BJP president M. Venkaiah Naidu, was attended by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani, Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha and other party leaders.

The resolution, moved by party spokesman Mukhtar Abvbas Naqvi, a Muslim, was passed unanimously, party general secretary Pramod Mahajan said.

Vajpayee and Advani did not speak on the subject.

Vajpayee has drawn flak from the opposition for refusing to directly condemn the US-led strike on Iraq and it has repeatedly demanded a parliamentary resolution on the issue, which the government has refused to allow.

Vajpayee has said the action is unjustified, but has refrained from outright condemnation.

"I don't see any contradiction (between the government and the party) on this," Mahajan said.

"There is always a difference between the government line and the party line. The government is more diplomatic, we are more candid."

WAR.WIRE