Unite behind the troops says UUP MLA

North Antrim Ulster Unionist MLA, Rev Robert Coulter, has called on the "entire community" to rally behind the coalition forces in the Gulf.

He also called on all clergy in the constituency to remember the armed forces in their worship, adding that special prayers should also be said for the families of those coalition soldiers serving in the Gulf.

"And its not just the serving troops and their relatives with the Royal Irish Regiment who should be in our thoughts and prayers at this time," he said.

"We should also remember that there are a lot of troops serving with other Irish regiments, such as the Irish Guards, as well as many people from Northern Ireland serving with other units of the coalition forces.

He added: "While this war is being fought many thousands of miles away from Northern Ireland, the broadcast and print media are providing us with up-to-date coverage of how the conflict is progressing. This coverage should be a constant reminder to us of what our brave soldiers have been sent to the Gulf to accomplish.

"They will rid the globe of a tyranny which has butchered thousands of its own people, and if left unchecked, could act as a worldwide terrorist catalyst for attacks on other democracies, such as the United Kingdom."

Rev Coulter also appealed to anti-war protesters to "rethink their position" and support the troops who are fighting for "freedom from international terrorist attacks".

However, the SDLP's South Down assembly candidate Margaret Richie said: "The war in Iraq is wrong. We daily witness the terrible carnage and destruction on our TV screens... But no one is a mere spectator of this war. It is a defeat for everyone."

The Middle East crisis also highlighted the need, said Ms Richie, for the "immediate and complete decommissioning of paramilitary weapons".

(GMcG)