Kolkata: World Federation of United Nations' Associations President Hasim Abdul Halim on march 26 urged the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to declare the US- initiated war on Iraq as illegal.

"We feel it is your legal and moral responsibility to declare this war as illegal and establish international rule of law. You owe this to history and mankind," Halim said in a letter to World body chief.

Urging him to convene an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council to stop the war, Halim said that a meeting of the UN General Assembly be called immediately to declare the war an illegal military action.

Halim, Speaker of the West Bengal legislative Assembly, told reporters in Kolkata that such steps by the world body would enhance the reputation of the UN and restore its credibility in the eyes of the world "since the US had defied the UN before initiating the military assault on Iraq".

In his letter to Kofi Annan, Halim said it was felt that the influence of the Security Council and the credibility of the UN was at stake.

To a question, Halim said it was the responsibility of the Vajpayee government to play its role in condemning the war.

"It is reprehensible that a unanimous resolution could not be adopted at the all- party meeting convened by the Prime Minister on Iraq," he added.

PTI