IRAQ: Lighting candles and singing songs of peace, relatives of victims of the September 11th attacks yesterday visited a Baghdad shelter bombed during the Gulf War.
"Suffering is universal. It connects us and we've bonded together in that suffering," said Ms Kristina Olsen, a nurse from Massachusetts, as she sat among Iraqi children on the steps of al-Amiriyah shelter where more than 400 civilians burned to death in February 1991.
Ms Olsen (44) is one of four women members of Peaceful Tomorrows, an anti-war group founded by families of September 11 victims, visiting Iraq on a six-day peace mission.
"I do not want to see the beauty of the world wasted on us, that is simply why we are here ... we want to do everything within our power to prevent this war against Iraq," said Ms Olsen, who lost her 49-year-old sister Laurie on September 11th, 2001.
Washington is massing troops in the Gulf and has threatened to attack Iraq unless it gives up its alleged stockpiles of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. Iraq denies having such arms.
"My heart has been ripped open and healing has taken place within me today," she said. "I hope that some sort of healing is taking place for some other people, the Iraqi people who have shared their stories with us and who have received our love and compassion." Playing a guitar, Ms Olsen, also a singer and songwriter, sang about compassion and understanding.
"If you want to sum up why we are here, understanding is the key. In coming and meeting people, in hearing their stories and listening to them," she said.
Terry Rockefeller from Massachusetts said Americans did not realise how much they had in common with the Iraqi people.
"I am concerned that there are people back in America who do not know enough about the Iraqi people.
"I think my job is to return and share my story of what I've learned," said Mr Rockefeller, who lost a sister in the hijacked airliner attacks. - (Reuters)