Free voices worldwide reject threats against Iraq

Baghdad, INA

The World Peace Movement decried American threats against Iraq as a violation of international law and a flagrant attack on Iraq’s sovereignty and independence.

In a letter to NASYO sent by Chief of the Movement, Mr. Micke Owi said that the World Peace Movement calls on all states and organizations to support Iraq against the American threats, and should work to end the continued embargo which caused the death of million and a half of Iraqi children, women and the elderly.

United Nations, INA

American Anti-War and Violence Organizations all work for unveiling consequences, bad impacts of the embargo and ongoing aggression on Iraqi people and its future results on stability and peace in the world.

Chief of the Voices in the Wilderness Organization Kathy Kelly decried American threats against Iraq as an attempt to control oil and riches of the region.

She told INA correspondent in New York, while she participated in the sit in organized by the Organization in front of the U.N headquarters, that America practiced hypocrisy in its policy. At a time America was talking about removing weapons of mass destruction in other areas, it (itself) possesses such weapons. America refused to hold dialogue with Iraq and put pressure on the United Nations to make the dialogue failed and to avoid reaching an agreement. It also contributed to suspend dialogue earlier made in Vienna, she said.

Mrs. Kelly said that America attempts to find justifications to launch aggression on Iraq. However there is no evidence against Iraq to justify aggression. She said that the sit in would continue till 11 September, then the Organization would organize a tour passing through New York, New Gersey, Jorgia and a number of other cities which include plants of weapons of mass destruction. The aim of such tour is to unveil U.S hypocrisy as the U.S produces weapons of mass destruction while it accuses others of producing them.

More than 2500 clerics of the British Anglican Church described American threats against Iraq as immoral, illegal and unjustifiable. They condemned US threats against Iraq, referring that there is no evidence against Iraq to justify launching aggression on it.

London, INA

Two thirds of British voters believe that a military aggression against Iraq is not justified. According to the poll published Monday in The Daily Telegraph, 90 percent of British people reject any US military operation against Iraq.

Ninety percent warned that such strike would result in revenge attacks against the West, while 82 percent said attacking Iraq would result in numerous civilian victims. A majority of 62 percent said such action could lead to a larger Middle East war.

Participants in the poll called on British government to keep away from US policy against Iraq. British parliamentary figures sent last month a letter to British Prime Minister Tony Blair expressing rejection to any US threats against Iraq.

British Labor MP George Galloway recently visited Baghdad and affirmed that the Iraqi cause should be solved by political diplomatic means. He praised Iraq’s diplomatic efforts in this respect, among which, Iraqi Foreign Minister’s letter to the UN Secretary General to hold a technical dialogue with Chief and members of UNMOVIC, and the National Assembly’s letter to chiefs of American Parliament and Senate to visit Iraq.

Moscow, INA

Russian Foreign Ministry said that Russian Foreign Minister Egor Evanov and Secretary General of the United Nations Kofi Annan affirmed on 10 August the necessity to reach a diplomatic solution for Iraqi issue.

German counselor Gerhard Shroder said on Friday that Germany absolutely rejects U.S aggressive threats against Iraq. He warned of the unpredictable serious results in case aggression is launched against Iraq. He also refuted American false allegations against Iraq. He said that they do not have any new evidence to prove that there are mass destruction weapons in Iraq.

Ankara, INA

Russia reiterated its rejection of the US threats against Iraq.

“Iraqi issue could be settled by peaceful means, and Russia and Turkey have the same view on this issue. We are worried about the escalation in the region,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Sultanov told reporters after his talks with Turkish officials.

Turkey has warned of the risks of the US threats against Iraq and its hazardous reflections on Turkey’s fragile economy.

Cairo, INA

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Mahir reiterated his country’s rejection of US threats against Iraq, “this vision is in harmony with most of world states’ attitudes towards Iraq”, he affirmed.

In a press statement, Mr. Mahir said Egypt and all Arab states refuse US threats against Iraq.

Egypt had declared refusing of any US aggression on Iraq, asserting that any aggression on Iraq would result in devastation to the whole region.

On the other hand, Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Othman Ismael reiterated Sudan’s rejection of any US threats against Iraq.

He affirmed that the international community and United Nations should consider that any strike would cause more sufferings to Iraq and would negatively affect regional peace and stability.”

He considered dialogue the only way to settle all pending issues between Iraq and the U.N to reach a deal that could lift the unjust sanctions off Iraq.

Syrian Information Minister Adnan Omran said that the Arab countries reject any American aggression on Iraq or on any other country.

Mr. Omran told al-Sharq a-Awsat newspaper that Syria has, in every occasion, rejected aggression on any Arab state and called for abiding by international charters.

The Arab League reiterated its absolute rejection to US threats to launch a military strike against Iraq, stressing that any such military action would be dangerous and unwise.

Secretary General of the Arab League Amrou Mousa affirmed that the Arab League rejects the use of force against Iraq, and it is keen to respect Iraq’s independence, sovereignty, unity and security. This came in a reply letter sent from Mr. Mousa to Speaker of Iraqi National Assembly Sa’doun Hammadi.

Mr. Mousa affirmed that the Arab countries abide by Beirut Summit decisions, provisions of the Arab League and the Joint Defense Pact. He referred to the decision made by Arab Leaders which affirms rejection of using force or threats against Iraq, considering any threat on Iraq a threat on the security of all Arab countries.

Mr. Mousa said that American threats and aggression would lead to chaos in international relations. He decried American allegations that Iraq produces weapons of mass destruction as mere accusations. He said that experts could verify facts instead of using threats.

In statements made Monday, the official spokesman for the Arab League Hisham Youssef welcomed Iraqi agreement to invite the Chief of the International Inspection team to visit Baghdad, hoping that such movement with the Iraqi-UN talks would lead to the lifting of sanctions, SANA reported.

The Arab League has lauded Iraq’s attitude in inviting Head of (UNMOVIC) to visit Iraq, considering it a positive step.

Mr. Youssef said that the Arab League hopes that exerted efforts between Iraq and the United Nations would lead to solve differences between the two sides.

He added that the Secretary General Amr Mousa is keeping on exerting efforts on the Arab and international levels to support Iraq’s efforts, saying that Mousa would hold meetings concerning Iraq’s issue on the fringe of the Arab League sessions or General Assembly in New York.

Amman, INA

Jordan supports Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and rejects any aggression on Iraq, Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri told reporters after meeting with King Abdullah of Jordan on 6 August.

In Amman, there are some of preparations to start popular march in solidarity with Iraq’s people and Palestine’s people in facing up US, Zionist threats against Arabs.

The march, which is called (March of Arab unity), is to start at the end of current month from Amman to Baghdad and then towards Damascus and , it is considered the first one of this type in the region.

Heads and members of theses unions will participate in the march and they will resident in Baghdad for couple days during which they will meet their counterparts and a number of officials to express solidarity with Iraq’s people in facing up to US threats which target Iraq and the whole Arab nation.

According to the program of the march, it will continue after visiting Iraq to Damascus where the participants would meet Syrian officials and popular organizations before they go to Beirut and then back to Amman.

This march comes in these critical situations in a show of solidarity with the people of Iraq as Iraq faces threats and embargo since 1990 and it is threatened to face a new aggression.

India, INA,

The Indian-Arab Society called on the Indian Prime Minister and the leaders of Indian Parties to condemn American threats against Iraq.

The Society affirmed the necessity to issue statements condemning American impetuous threats.