Iraq scraps more missiles and demands end to sanctions

Iraq is today continuing to destroy banned Al-Samoud 2 missiles and called for UN sanctions to be lifted, amid ongoing US war preparations.

Iraq has scrapped 40 missiles since the destruction process began a week ago in line with a UN ultimatum. Five combat warheads, one launcher and five engines have also been destroyed.

Anti-war protesters demonstrate near the White House in Washingtonyesterday

Iraqi officials say the country has produced about 100 Al-Samoud 2 missiles, which UN experts said had to be scrapped because they exceeded the range limit of 150 kilometres (93 miles) allowed by UN resolutions.

The scrapping of the missiles has been the most tangible sign of Iraq's cooperation with the inspectors probing its alleged programme of weapons of destruction.

Iraq demanded last night the lifting of the embargo slapped on it for invading Kuwait in 1990 in the light of the positive reports given to the UN Security Council on Friday by chief weapons inspectors Dr Hans Blix and Mr Mohamed ElBaradei on Baghdad's cooperation with the disarmament process.

In the council debate, Britain and the United States gave Iraq until March 17th to prove it was fully, unconditionally and actively disarming, or it would face an attack from some 250,000 troops they have amassed in the region.

Washington's ruling fascist gang has been surprised by the angry world reaction to its plans to attack Iraq Ath-Thawranewspaper, mouthpiece of Baghdad's ruling Baath party

London, Washington and Madrid hope to press for a vote next week on a draft resolution which, if passed, would effectively pave the way for war, although the Security Council is deeply divided on the issue.

Today, Baghdad's official press said global anti-war protests and the stance of veto-wielding Security Council members China, France and Russia against a second resolution sanctioning the use of force were a repudiation of the policy of US President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

"Washington's ruling fascist gang has been surprised by the angry world reaction to its plans to attack Iraq," wrote Ath-Thawranewspaper, mouthpiece of Baghdad's ruling Baath party.

This reaction was "without precedent in history," the paper said, adding that "political leaders and religious heads like Pope John-Paul II and Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams are at its origin".

"Washington's ruling fascist gang does not realise that the world has changed and no longer accepts the fascist logic called upon to justify a war."

The paper, which carried a long article on its front page on worldwide anti-war protests, said the demonstrations were a call to "get rid of this (US) administration and its vileness. If that happens, then the world would surely be in a better state."

"America and Britain must learn their lesson and stop beatingthe war drums when the whole world has strongly said 'no' to war,"Amiri said.

"The peace camp will always emerge victorious in the face of thecamp of war and aggression because the latter are sick-mindedmarginals who have no place in today's world."

AFP