Leaders of the state Church of Norway released a statement Tuesday calling any war in Iraq "unethical, illegitimate and unwise."
The statement, signed by seven top leaders of Norway's Lutheran church, argued against any military action and said that war "can only be defended ethically if it is the absolutely last resort for self defense against military aggression."
Public opinion in the Nordic country of 4.5 million has turned overwhelmingly against a possible war in Iraq. In an opinion poll from late January, 90 percent of those asked were against a war without a U.N. mandate.
About 86 percent of Norway's residents are registered as members of the state church. Although the state church is supported by the government, which also appoints those in key posts, it operates independently from the state on religious and morale issues.
The church leaders said that while the people of Iraq have suffered under Saddam Hussein and that he is a problem for the region, war would create even greater hardship.
The statement also rejected the idea of the United State's going to war to disarm Iraq to prevent it from using possible weapons on mass destruction.
The statement was signed by the chairman of the state church council, the president of the national bishop conference, leaders of the Sami Church Council for Norway's indigenous reindeer herders and others.