New Delhi: Describing the US and its allies' military action against Iraq as "invasion for oil", several noted jurists in New Delhi on April 4 said the war was "illegal, unethical and immoral" in the absence of any sanction from the United Nations Security Council.

"The argument being given in favour of war by US and UK is ridiculous. The war is for the rich oil reserves in Iraq and US wants do install a puppet regime in Baghdad to control over $ 200 billion worth of oil wealth in that country by overthrowing Saddam Hussein," the jurists, including Attorney General Soli J Sorabjee and former Delhi High Court Chief Justice Rajindra Sachar said.

Speaking at a Seminar on -- Iraq War: Legal and Ethical Implications --Sorabjee said the attack by America and its allies against Iraq in the absence of any backing from UN "is nothing but invasion of that country for oil, which is a very dangerous development for world peace."

"So far there have been many casualties in the war but the UN charter has become the biggest casualty," he said adding, "it is a war for oil and it is disgusting that it is being rationalised in the name of freedom and democracy."

Expressing identical views on the US allies attack on Iraq, Sachar and other noted jurists -- Rajiv Dhawan, P P Rao and Jitendra Sharma said such "blatant violation" of UN Charter and International Law needed to be condemned by all.

Describing India's response to the US action as "muted", they expressed distress over the "lukewarm" response from masses, particularly the youth in the country against the war while there were strong protests in many countries, including US and UK.

PTI