Extracts. British MP Condemns US-British Air Strike Against Iraq George Galloway, member of parliament of Britain, here on Monday vehemently condemned the US -British air raids against Iraq Friday evening. "It is a crime against humanity," Galloway, who arrived in Baghdad early Sunday morning by car from Amman, Jordan, told reporters. While visiting the people wounded in the air strike at the Al- Yarmuk hospital in western Baghdad, he described the joint US- British military actions as "reckless, lawless and murderous." There was no legal authority for the US and Britain to set up the so-called no-fly zones as there were no United Nations resolutions for this, he said. He also "utterly" rejected the excuse given by the US and Britain for the attack. The US and Britain claimed that Iraq had intensified its anti-aircraft fire against their planes patrolling the no-fly zones since this year. Galloway said that such an excuse could not justify the attack. "The truth is, as everyone knows it, that Iraq's anti-aircraft fire is pitifully inadequate to the task of combating the high-tech US and British military jets," he said. US and British planes have been enforcing the two no-fly zones with the claimed aim of protecting the Kurds in the north and Shiite Muslims in the south from the forces of President Saddam Hussein. In an interview with Xinhua, Galloway said he will continue his anti-sanctions efforts until the end. Iraq has been under sweeping U.N. sanctions since its invasion of Kuwait in 1990. Triggered by Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, the US-led multinational forces launched the 1991 Gulf War to eventually evict Iraqi troops out of Kuwait. "We must assume the worst as America and Britain tend to continue the war which has lasted for 10 years," he said. Nlajeeb Jabbo, a surgeon at the hospital, told Xinhua that there are a total of 10 wounded people, including women and children, being treated in the hospital. "All of them are civilians," he said. Ali Baham Ramadan, a wounded college student, was one among the people treated in the hospital. "I was walking in the streets with my mother and sister when the attack came," he said. His mother and sister were also wounded and treated in the same hospital and his mother looks extremely weak. Other wounded people are reportedly being treated in other hospitals. Iraq said that two were killed and 20 others injured in Friday evening's bombardment by the US and Britain, the first such attack outside the no-fly zones in about two years. **** EU Still Mum on US-British Air Raid Against Iraq The European Union (EU) is still mum Monday on US-British air strikes against Iraq on Friday. The European Commission, the executive body of the 15-nation bloc, merely told the press that the commission did not have a public statement to make at the moment and nor did it study the legal basis for the bombing. "The issue is now in the hands of the United Nations Security Council," said a spokesman of the commission. He sidestepped a question on whether Britain, as an EU member, had complied with U.N. Security Council resolutions which did not justify bombings against Iraq. He replied that the question should have been directed to Britain. He indicated that the EU would not like to see sanctions against Baghdad lifted. The sanctions took place for precise reasons and would remain as long as the reasons remain, he said. Meanwhile, he said the commission would not take sides with the member states holding different views regarding the sanctions against the Gulf nation. Some EU member states are now in favor of immediately lifting the sanctions that are blamed for causing humanitarian disaster in Iraq, especially among children, women and the aged, while some others hold that the sanctions can be lifted only after Iraq complies with UN resolutions. Although Iraq urged the removal of the sanctions imposed after its invasion of Kuwait in 1990, the UN insists that Iraq first allow arms inspectors back to the country to ensure Iraq is not developing weapons of mass destruction. A total of 24 U.S. and British warplanes bombed Iraq on Friday night, reportedly killing two people and wounding 20 others. The attack was said to be aimed at the Iraqi air defense and radar sites south of Baghdad. **** China, Russia to Boost Strategic Cooperation China, Russia to Boost Strategic Cooperation ------------------------------------------------------------------------Russ ian President Vladimir Putin and China's Central Military Commission Vice-chairman Zhang Wannian stressed here Wednesday that the two countries should strengthen their partnership of strategic cooperation to ensure global stability and security. At their meeting in the Kremlin, Putin told Zhang that the ties between Russia and China will develop smoothly this year and the two sides will sign a series of important agreements, which will strengthen the foundation for bilateral strategic cooperation. On the current world situation, Putin stressed that the two countries' common task is to defend the mechanism of maintaining international strategic stability and to keep it intact. He highly valued the positive and fruitful cooperation in this field in the recent years. He reaffirmed that Russia's stand on this issue is firm and consistent, and Moscow will double its efforts to defend this position. Zhang, who arrived here Monday for a four-day official visit, said that expanding China-Russia partnership of strategic cooperation in light of the current international situation is of great significance. This not only conforms to the fundamental interests of the two countries and their peoples, but also contributes to regional and global peace and stability. Zhang highly spoke of Putin's contribution to the development of Sino-Russian relations for his political wisdom and far-sight. He said China is pleased to see that Russia has achieved political stability and fast economic growth under Putin's leadership. Zhang expressed confidence that Russia, led by Putin, will consolidate political stability, social development and national defense and continue improving the people's life. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
