Damascus

              Syria Times
              20-8-2000

              Riad Zein

              Serious calls are repeatedly made by different world parties to lift the
              sanctions imposed on Iraq and to end the sufferings of the Iraqi people,
              especially after the American-British bombardment of a populated area in
              southern Iraq where more than 20 civilians were killed and wounded.

              The bombardment is outrageous, and is perhaps a new message by Washington
              and London that the final objective of the unjust and tough 10-year-old
              embargo is to bring down all the Iraqi people who have been the direct
              victims of the sanctions.

              Nevertheless, the treacherous bombardment is seemingly a direct reaction to
              the international solidarity with Iraq and an open challenge to the world
              community's will to end the unbearable sufferings of the Iraqis. The
              solidarity was manifested through the Venezuelan President's visit to
              Baghdad, the forthcoming one by President Wahid of Indonesia, Russia's
              condemnation of the American-British air strikes on Iraq, and its call
              (along with China and France) for lifting sanctions. Moreover, a UN report
              prepared by a Belgian professor of law has said the sanctions have proven to
              be illegal and inhuman. The UN human rights sub-committee called for easing
              sanctions and for alleviating the sufferings of the Iraqis. A senior UN
              official in charge of the human programme urged the committee of sanctions
              to review its policy and not to hinder human activities of the oil-for-food
              plan. A delegation comprising British women was in Iraq to voice solidarity
              with the Iraq people. Similar Arab and foreign delegations have also been
              frequenting Baghdad to demonstrate solidarity with the Iraqis.

              Time is right now to end the tyrannous embargo on Iraq as the sufferings of
              the Iraqis are virtually no more bearable and herald a human catastrophe.

              Will the genocide stop against the innocent Iraqis? Has Washington another
              "viewpoint"?