Higgins says US and UK foreign policy decisions led to attacks

American and British foreign policy had "created the poisoned well from which the horrors of September 11th emerged", the Socialist Party TD, Mr Joe Higgins, said at the weekend.

Addressing an anti-war gathering estimated at about 500 people, Mr Higgins said the socialist movement condemned the attacks on the US in which innocent people lost their lives. The movement was disgusted, however, at the condemnations from President Bush and Mr Tony Blair as their administrations had "no moral authority" for such condemnation.

"The foreign policies of these countries have been responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocent people. Britain sold the arms to East Timor, the sanctions in Iraq are killing children and a war now will certainly result in the loss of more innocent lives", said Mr Higgins.

A number of groups took part in the gathering at Dublin's Central Bank plaza on Saturday afternoon before marching to O'Connell Street. Commenting on Ireland's offer of airports and airspace to the American military, Mr Higgins said such an offer, if taken up in time of war, would make Ireland complicit in the deaths of innocent people.

Mr Higgins, the only Oireachtas member to attend the rally, said a war now would also result in the creation of a whole new generation of suicide bombers.