The British government has published its vision for a free and prosperous post-Saddam Iraq enjoying its own representative government and playing a full role in the international community.
As the countdown to war continued yesterday, the Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, expressed the hope that any military action "required to ensure compliance with UN resolutions" would be temporary, while promising that "our commitment to support the people of Iraq will be for the long term".
The British paper - to be delivered to the region in written and video form - develops Mr Blair's pledge at the conclusion of Sunday's summit in the Azores that the Allies would help "rebuild Iraq" from "the appalling legacy that the rule of Saddam has left the Iraqi people."
It says: "Our aim is to disarm Saddam of his weapons of mass destruction, which threaten his neighbours and his people.
"Our presence in Iraq, if military action is required to secure compliance with UN resolutions, will be temporary. But our commitment to support the people of Iraq will be for the long term."
The paper continues: "The Iraqi people deserve to be lifted from tyranny and allowed to determine the future of their country for themselves.
"We pledge to work with the international community to ensure that the Iraqi people can exploit their country's resources for their own benefit and contribute to their own reconstruction, with international help where needed.
"We wish to help the Iraqi people restore their country to its proper dignity and place in the community of nations, abiding by its international obligations and free from UN sanctions."
Specifically the British paper promises to support the Iraqi people in their desire for:
Peace: a unified Iraq within its current borders living at peace with itself and its neighbours.
Prosperity: all Iraqis sharing the wealth created by its economy and its oil reserves.
Freedom: an Iraq which respects fundamental human rights, including freedom of thought, conscience and religion and the dignity of family life, and whose people live free from repression and fear of arbitrary arrest.
Good government: an independent Iraq whose government reflects the diversity and choice of its population, helps rebuild Iraq's security and provides its people with food, water and high- quality services including health and education.
International respect: an Iraq respected by its neighbours which plays its full role as a member of the international community.
And it promises help by:
Working to ensure any military campaign is as swift and carefully targeted as possible.
Working with the UN and international community to help meet the humanitarian needs and prioritise resources to feed and care for the Iraqi people.
Enabling Iraqis to establish their own representative government and encouraging UN involvement in the process.
Achieving a swift end to sanctions as soon as Iraq is in compliance with the UN resolutions.
Seeking a fair and sustainable solution to Iraq's debt problems.
Promoting increased international aid.
Supporting an international reconstruction programme.
Promoting investment in Iraq's oil industry, managed transparently and fairly, and trade in open world markets for the benefit of the Iraqi people, and
Encouraging the renewal of cultural and educational exchanges with other countries.
The paper says the allies will do "all that we can to limit civilian casualties and damage to essential infrastructure" and "mobilise the international community to provide emergency humanitarian relief."