Sinn Fein urges Irish government to oppose war

Sinn Fein chairman Mitchel McLaughlin has called on the Irish government to use all its "diplomatic resources" to promote a peaceful solution as the crisis over Iraqi arms deepens.

The assembly member for Foyle said the Irish government "must recognise" that there was growing opposition to the prospect of war against Saddam Hussein's regime.

He said: "There is growing resistance to this war, not just in Ireland but throughout the world. There is also widespread recognition that the people of Iraq have suffered profound deprivation and hardship as a result of the last Gulf War and the ongoing sanctions."

The Sinn Fein MLA said that UNICEF figures indicated that 90,000 Iraqis die each year as a result of the sanctions which were imposed under the UN's food for oil programme after the 1991 Gulf War.

Mr McLaughlin added: "Sinn Fein again calls on the Irish government to strongly oppose the launching of a new war against Iraq by the US and British governments. The government must use all its political and diplomatic resources in the UN and EU to promote a peaceful solution."

The prospect of war in Iraq seems increasingly likely as more bellicose statements emanate from Washington and Downing Street. Earlier today the British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon announced the call up of a further 4,500 reservists – in addition to the 31,000 troops already dispatched to the Gulf region.

This follows President Bush's State of the Union speech in Washington last night where he claimed that there is a definite link between the Ba'ath regime in Iraq and Osama Bin Laden's Al-Qaida network. It has also been claimed that the Iraqis have been spying on UN arms inspectors.

Earlier this week, Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh accused the Irish administration of "complicity" in the build up for war as the US air force had been ferrying material through Shannon Airport.

(GMcG)