Military action started shortly before 0300 GMT on Thursday

He told an emergency debate in Cardiff Bay on Wednesday that the nation faced "difficult times" as UK and US troops mobilised near the Iraqi border ahead of action.

"Military intervention in Iraq is not an attack on Muslims. We must make every effort to maintain the bridges between the many ethnic groups in Wales," he said

His statement came just hours after 16 of the 34 Welsh Labour MPs signalled opposition to the conflict by backing an anti-war amendment in the Commons - among 139 Labour MPs who voted against Tony Blair.

Blair wins backing for war Rebellion by Welsh MPs

Mr Morgan also told the chamber that hospitals in Wales were involved in contingency plans for possibly treating casualties of conflict.

But he refused to be drawn on whether he thought military assaults should go ahead, saying a re-run of Westminster's debate was not needed.

The assembly's views, he said, were "totally irrelevant" because only the UK Parliament could take a decision on war.

But what was relevant was Wales' public services.

He said hospitals were ready to "respond to the circumstances of war or any revenge terrorist attacks ... including chemical or biological attacks".

He added: "The NHS in Wales is part of the [UK's] plans to deal with war casualties and will play its part in the reconstruction of Iraq.

First Minister Rhodri Morgan

"Airports and hospitals near those airports will be used if there are casualties requiring repatriation of injured servicemen and women."

The first minister may have slapped down calls to give an opinion on whether war was appropriate, but Conservative assembly leader Nick Bourne had no such qualms.

"The stance taken on Iraq is moral, against a man who gassed the Kurds, who has killed his own people, who has sent people into exile," Mr Bourne said.

"There's no question about it - we're in a fight of right against wrong now and we should back our troops."

'Imperialist aggressors'

Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones said he wanted the assembly to express its views through a vote, which was not granted.

He asked: "What hope now for a safer world, post-Iraq?

"The United States and her allies will be seen as imperialist aggressors."

Liberal Democrat assembly leader Mike German questioned whether President Bush's aim of "regime change" was legal.

"That is why resolution 1441 was valuable, because it had unanimous United Nations backing," he said.

"We will now never know whether a few more months could have led to a significant reduction in Saddam's capabilities."