In a statement responding to the onset of U.S.-led military operations against the regime of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, President Vladimir Putin said on 20 March that Washington has made \"a big political mistake,\" and insisted on the quickest possible cessation of hostilities. Putin deplored the idea that \"international law is being replaced by the law of the fist and the principle that the strongest are always right.\" He added that Iraq poses no danger to the international community, and said that Russia\'s policy will be \"to return the crisis to a peaceful track and to search for a solution to the Iraq problem based on UN resolutions.\" He said that he has already received reports of casualties and damage in Iraq. (ITAR-TASS)