Pressure for Government to cancel Bush visit

The Government is under increasing pressure today to cancel the visit of US President George W.Bush to Ireland next month.

Mr Bush is due at a summit, expected to be held at Dromoland Castle in Clare, on June 25 ^th. The Dáil is this afternoon hearing statements from all political parties on the current state of the US-led war in Iraq.

The Minister for State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Mr Tom Kitt,  told TDs the Government was "deeply concerned" at the deaths of at least 41 people in northern Iraq yesterday. Iraqi witnesses said those who died were attending a wedding ceremony in the village of Makr al-Deeb near the Syrian border. However, the US military disputes this, claiming the target was a safe house used by foreign fighters.

Mr Kitt said the Government had urged the United States "to make every conceivable effort to avoid civilian casualties". He also condemned the abuse of prisoners and reiterated the "abhorrence" of the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs at the mistreatment.

Mr Kitt said the Government believes the strong UN has an "essential role" in the transfer of sovereignty to the Iraqi people on June 30 ^th. He said a   new Security Council resolution "would be helpful in guaranteeing a peaceful Iraq, whose territorial sovereignty is preserved, is reintegrated into the international community."

The Fine Gael chief whip, Mr Bernard Durkan, described the situation in Iraq as "a truly awful mess". He said it was a "sad reflection" on Irish society that we could remain silent in face of the abuse of prisoners and the deaths of innocent people.

The Labour Party's Mr Michael D. Higgins described the situation in Iraq as "appalling". He said the US action in Iraq has created the "finest recruiting ground in the world" for Islamic terrorists.

He attacked the Government for lacking the "courage" to condemn the US government over the abuse of prisoners and called for huge protests against Mr Bush's visit.

The Green Party's Mr John Gormley said the Iraqi people have "suffered immeasurably" at the hands of the United States and Britain in their "counter-productive war" that was "built on a lie". He said there was no explanation from Mr Kitt why Ireland, as a neutral country, supported this war. Mr Gormley accused the Government of "kow-towing" to those leading the war.

He asked if Mr Bush would be bringing a leash with him on his visit to put around the neck of the Taoiseach, as this "would be symbolic of the relationship" between Ireland and the United States.

Mr Caoimhghin O Caolain accused the Taoiseach of allowing Ireland to become an aerodrome for a "belligerent political power". He said neither Mr Ahern nor Mr Cowen had any credibility in condemning atrocities by coalition forces, "given that they had facilitated, and continue to facilitate, them".

This morning, the Socialist Party's Mr  Joe Higgins asked the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, if she would be comfortable shaking Mr Bush's hands in the light of the deaths of  yesterday. Ms Harney did not answer.

Also today, the Irish Anti-War Movement (IAWM) today called on the Government to retract the invitation to the US President in the wake of developments in Iraq.

The IAWM's Mr Richard Boyd Barrett, described yesterday's attack as "a terrible act of aggression against innocent civilians". He accused the US of intensifying its war in Iraq despite the international demands for a withdrawal of the US and British occupying forces.

He also attacked the Government for continuing to allow the US military to use Shannon and Baldonell Airports. "We should send a clear message to the US President that the Irish people oppose the US-led occupation of Iraq and we do not want the blood of innocent Iraqis on our hands," Mr Boyd Barrett said.