SF hands letter to Bush, Blair opposing war

Sinn Féin president Mr Gerry Adams has given US President George W Bush and British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair a letter detailing…

Sinn Féin president Mr Gerry Adams has given US President George W Bush and British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair a letter detailing his party's opposition to war in Iraq.

The letter was given to both leaders as they chaired brief round-table discussions between pro-Agreement parties in Hillsborough Castle, including Sinn Féin.

"Most people in Ireland are opposed to the war on Iraq," the letter says, "Sinn Féin shares that view."

"We are also opposed to the regime in that country. But we believe that dialogue, diplomacy and negotiation is the route the peaceful resolution of conflict. The United Nations should be accorded responsibility for this.

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"We urge that his war be halted now and that the UN be given the primary role for providing humanitarian aid to the Iraqi people and of rebuilding their shattered country.

"Urgent attention must now be paid to the conflict in the Middle East and every effort made to resolve that ongoing tragedy for the Palestinian and Israeli peoples," the letter adds.