Mandela Says Attack on Iraq Would Be 'Disaster'

Former South African President Nelson Mandela said on Monday it would be a "disaster" if Britain and the United States extended their anti-terror bombing campaign to Iraq.
Asked whether he would support the bombing of Iraq, Mandela told reporters: "That would be a disaster."
Mandela said Britain and the United States were bypassing the United Nations in conducting the anti-terror campaign. "That is extremely dangerous because they are introducing chaos into international affairs," the 1993 Nobel peace laureate said in Cape Town.
Mandela, a figure of international moral authority who has devoted his life to fighting racism, said Britain and the United States seemed to be afraid their actions would be vetoed by the U.N. Security Council.
"The United States and Britain have acted without going through the United Nations...What they are doing is to say if you fear there could be a veto of your action, you are entitled to act independently of the Security Council," he said.
The United States and Great Britain have been carrying out punishing air attacks in Afghanistan aimed at flushing out Saudi-born dissident Osama bin Laden, accused of masterminding the September 11 suicide attacks in the United States.
There have been hints that Washington could extend its war on terror to arch-enemy Iraq.
President Bush last week demanded Iraqi President Saddam Hussein allow U.N. arms inspectors to return to Iraq and said Saddam would "find out" the consequences if he refused.
Washington says Baghdad has been developing weapons of mass destruction since the inspectors left Iraq on the eve of U.S.-British bombing in December 1998.
Mandela said he supported the U.S. bombing campaign in Afghanistan "only insofar as it is trying to flush out the terrorists in Afghanistan. I don't agree of course that Bush should attack wholesale the country of Afghanistan."
Mandela also said the United States was not the best mediator for the Middle East because it was perceived to be a friend of Israel.
"The proper thing is for the United States of America, Britain, France, Saudi Arabia and Egypt jointly to mediate together," he said.

	HOME \| NEWS \| Irak-Debatte	Druckversion
	3.12.2001 \| Reuters, 3.12.01 \| by Brendan Boyle Mandela Says Attack on Iraq Would Be 'Disaster' Former South African President Nelson Mandela said on Monday it would be a "disaster" if Britain and the United States extended their anti-terror bombing campaign to Iraq. Asked whether he would support the bombing of Iraq, Mandela told reporters: "That would be a disaster." Mandela said Britain and the United States were bypassing the United Nations in conducting the anti-terror campaign. "That is extremely dangerous because they are introducing chaos into international affairs," the 1993 Nobel peace laureate said in Cape Town. Mandela, a figure of international moral authority who has devoted his life to fighting racism, said Britain and the United States seemed to be afraid their actions would be vetoed by the U.N. Security Council. "The United States and Britain have acted without going through the United Nations...What they are doing is to say if you fear there could be a veto of your action, you are entitled to act independently of the Security Council," he said. The United States and Great Britain have been carrying out punishing air attacks in Afghanistan aimed at flushing out Saudi-born dissident Osama bin Laden, accused of masterminding the September 11 suicide attacks in the United States. There have been hints that Washington could extend its war on terror to arch-enemy Iraq. President Bush last week demanded Iraqi President Saddam Hussein allow U.N. arms inspectors to return to Iraq and said Saddam would "find out" the consequences if he refused. Washington says Baghdad has been developing weapons of mass destruction since the inspectors left Iraq on the eve of U.S.-British bombing in December 1998. Mandela said he supported the U.S. bombing campaign in Afghanistan "only insofar as it is trying to flush out the terrorists in Afghanistan. I don't agree of course that Bush should attack wholesale the country of Afghanistan." Mandela also said the United States was not the best mediator for the Middle East because it was perceived to be a friend of Israel. "The proper thing is for the United States of America, Britain, France, Saudi Arabia and Egypt jointly to mediate together," he said. WADI e.V. \| tel.: (+49) 069-57002440 \| fax (+49) 069-57002444 http://www.wadinet.de \| e-mail: