Visit our website: HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------------------------- BBC Reports: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1) Iraq denies role in US attacks 2) Saddam tells West 'be wise' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Wednesday, 19 September, 2001, 12:58 GMT 13:58 UK 1) Iraq denies role in US attacks ====================== Many Iraqis fear the US is looking for an excuse to attack them http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/middle_east/newsid_1552000/1552287.st m Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri has fiercely denied his country was involved in last week's suicide hijack attacks on New York and Washington. The denial follows reports that the CIA is investigating information that Mohammed Atta - believed to have been a hijacker on the first plane to crash into the World Trade Center last Tuesday - met Iraqi intelligence in Europe earlier this year. "The United States, Great Britain, the Western states and the rest of the world know full well that Iraq has no link, near or far, with the attacks against American interests" Foreign Minister Naji Sabri Mr Sabri told the al-Iqtisadi weekly there was "no link, near or far" between Iraq and the attacks, which have left nearly 6,000 people dead or missing. He also specifically denied any meeting between an official and a suspect hijacker when asked by the Reuters news agency. Baghdad has already said that Americans brought the attacks on themselves, although letters of condolence have been sent to US figures who publicly oppose the crippling UN sanctions on the country. Apprehension The BBC's Caroline Hawley says many Iraqis feel the US is determined to try to pin the blame on Baghdad in some form, in order to justify a fresh round of attacks on the country. The US is the key proponent of the economic sanctions against Iraq imposed over a decade ago after the country invaded Kuwait. Baghdad also claims that hundreds of people have been killed as a result of raids routinely carried out by the US and Britain. US President George Bush has made clear his belief that last week's attacks open the way for a campaign not just against those responsible but also against terrorism worldwide. The stance troubles those with poor US relations. Iraq claims many are killed or injured during raids "It is unreasonable for the United States to impose on the world its definition of terrorism and include any armed action that targets its interests, policy, injustice," said Mr Sabri. The prime suspect behind Tuesday's terror attacks is Saudi-born dissident Osama bin Laden, who is believed to operate in more than 40 countries. President Bush is holding extensive talks with foreign leaders in the hope of building up a global coalition to join him in his battle. Several key countries are understood however to be insisting that the US should use its military might only when it is proved beyond doubt who was responsible for the attacks. Tuesday, 18 September, 2001, 19:21 GMT 20:21 UK RealPlayer Audio Report: http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/1550000/audio/_1551287_iraq16_hawley.ram 2) Saddam tells West 'be wise' ===================== http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/monitoring/media_reports/newsid_15500 00/1550895.stm Words of caution to an angry United States Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has addressed an open letter to Western leaders, counselling them to use wisdom before using force to avenge what he described as "the incident" last week. In a long and rambling message read out on Iraqi TV on Tuesday, President Saddam accused "Zionist leaders" of seeking to start a war between Islam and Christianity, suggesting this was part of a Zionist plan to dominate the world, and "outsmart the sensible men in the West". The United States needs to try wisdom after it has tried force over the last 50 years The message, whose translation into English comprised about 2,800 words, queried how the US could take any action before getting conclusive proof of who was responsible for the attacks on New York and Washington, without mentioning the cities by name. "We have said on previous occasions that the United States needs to try wisdom after it has tried force over the last 50 or more years," Mr Saddam's message said. Premature "The US has made the charge before verification, even before possessing the minimum evidence. It has not even availed itself of the opportunity to first verify things," the letter read. "It is not yet known whether it was carried out by a foreign enemy or from inside." The policy of power has found its opportunity to declare war ... the rulers of the United States have reached a final verdict: that it is the enemy of Arabs and Muslims He accused Washington of "incitement and threats ... broadening the charges to include states, circles, and individuals". "Afghanistan - Osama Bin Laden - the Islamic Al-Qa'idah organization - Syria - Yemen - Algeria - Iraq - Lebanon - and Palestine. The list may be curtailed or enlarged according to the pretexts of the policy of power, which has found its opportunity ... to declare war," he said. Enemies The USA "has made an assumption tantamount to a conclusive verdict; namely that Islam, with Arabs at the head of the Muslims, is an enemy of the United States. More precisely, the rulers of the United States have reached a final verdict: that it is the enemy of Arabs and Muslims." "The incident presented an opportunity to declare a state of war," Mr Saddam said. "Have you ever heard or read in the recent or distant past of a state declaring war before defining who is its enemy?" The Zionist leaders are working for a clash between Christianity and Islam on the assumption that this, and only this, could secure a chance to dominate the world "Once again, we say that the US administration and those in the West who allied themselves with it against Arabs and Muslims ... are in need of finding the path of wisdom," he said. Zionist plot "The Zionist leaders are working for a clash between Christianity and Islam on the assumption that this, and only this, could secure a chance to dominate the world when new opportunities open up for its domination. Would the sensible men in the West be aware of that? Or would Zionism outsmart them to attain its aims?" A separate letter has also been sent from the Iraqi Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz to a US group campaigning against sanctions in Iraq. In it he said Baghdad expressed its "sincere condolences" to the families affected by the attacks. Iraq is on America's list of state sponsors of terrorism and a BBC correspondent in the region says Baghdad fears it may now be in the firing line. BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages. ------------------------------------------------- This Discussion List is the follow-up for the old stopnato @listbot.com that has been shut down ==^================================================================ EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9spWA Or send an email To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This email was sent to: [email protected] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
