United Nations: The US-led military action against Iraq came in for severe criticism
at the UN Security Council, with several members questioning its legality and
Baghdad calling it a "barbaric aggression", leading to thousands of casualties.
"Iraq, a founding member of the United Nations, is being subjected to a criminal,
barbaric American-British military aggression," Iraqi Ambassador to UN Mohammed
Aldouri said and demanded that the Council deal with it first.
Addressing the emergency Council session, he asked the United Nations to condemn the
military action, hold the US and its allies responsible for it and take action to
end it.
He also had some harsh words for the Council, which he said, had been discussing the
issue of humanitarian aid rather than dealing with the aggression.
The Iraqi Army, he said, is fighting honourably the "foul aggression" and
confronting it with heroism.
He later told reporters the real issue is not humanitarian aid, but the invasion and
the UNSC needs to deal with it first.
The 22-member Arab Group and 116-member Non Aligned Movement (NAM) had requested for
the special session, at which all members of the UN, whether on the Council or not,
can speak.
Malaysian Ambassador Rastam Mohammad Isa too came down heavily on the Council,
attacking it for remaining silent against the war, which should not have been
started in the first place.
Secretary General Kofi Annan, apparently trying to strike a balance, said many
people wondered why Iraqi government had not taken full advantage of the final
opportunity given by the Council to co-operate with UN weapons inspectors and meet
the disarmament demands.
"But at the same time, many people around the world are seriously questioning
whether it was legitimate for some member states to proceed to such a fateful action
now – an action that has far-reaching consequences well beyond the immediate
military dimensions – without first reaching a collective decision of this Council,"
Annan said.
He asked the five permanent members with veto powers – US, Russia, UK, France, and
China – to "show leadership by making a concerted effort to overcome their
differences".
It is yet unclear whether the Arabs would press for a resolution demanding the US-
led forces be withdrawn. The resolution is bound to be vetoed by Washington and
London even if it is able to get nine votes needed for adoption by the 15-member
Council.
One strategy being considered was that after veto, Arabs' requisition of a meeting
of the 191-member General Assembly to get the resolution adopted. But Assembly
resolutions are only in recommendatory in nature and are not enforceable.
However, some diplomats argue that even if not enforceable, it would send a strong
message that an overwhelming majority of states opposes the military action.
Annan regretted that "intense efforts" by the global community to achieve a peaceful
solution have not succeeded.
"We all want to see this war brought to an end as soon as possible," he said. But
while it continues, it is essential that everything be done to protect the civilian
population, as well as the wounded and the prisoners of war, on both sides, and to
bring relief to the victims, he said.
"That obligation was binding on all the belligerents. The Geneva Conventions and all
other instruments of international humanitarian law must be scrupulously obeyed," he
said.
PTI
