Spain's new government vowed yesterday to "never again turn its back" on the United Nations, as cabinet ministers focused on bringing the country's troops back from Iraq as soon as possible.

　　Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos stressed Spain is not abandoning Iraq nor wavering from confronting terrorism.

　　The pullout, announced on Sunday by newly elected Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, "doesn't mean Spain renounces its commitment to provide stability and democratize Iraq," Moratinos said as he took over his new duties.

　　"Instead, we will be partners, allies and firm defenders," working with other UN members "to achieve that dream which Iraqis themselves have to build a free and democratic Iraq," the former European Union envoy to the Middle East said.

　　Moratinos was headed to Dublin, Ireland, which holds the rotating EU presidency, today to brief EU officials about the withdrawal, then on to Washington for talks with US Secretary of State Colin Powell.

　　Defense Minister Jose Bono echoed Zapatero's sentiment that last year's US-led invasion of Iraq was illegal as it lacked UN sanction, and the current military occupation is not lessening world tensions. The US-led coalition attacked Iraq even though it failed to win backing of the UN Security Council.

　　(The Associated Press)