S.Africa, Germany Announce Opposition to War Against Iraq

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, September 03, 2002

S.Africa, Germany Announce Opposition to War Against Iraq

South Africa and Germany on Monday announced their opposition to the US military action against Iraq.

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South Africa and Germany on Monday announced their opposition to the US military action against Iraq.

During a meeting on the sidelines of the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Sandton, Johannesburg, South African President Thabo Mbeki and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder agreed that the United States should refrain from taking any military action against Iraq.

South African Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad said Mbekitold Schroder the United States should be discouraged from attacking Iraq.

"The two leaders agreed they were not comfortable with any military action being taken against Iraq," Pahad told reporters.

It was long reported that Iraq would be the next target of the US anti-terrorism war.

US President George W. Bush has warned his Iraqi counterpart Saddam Hussein of unspecified consequences if he does not allow the United Nations inspectors into the country to verify he has dismantled chemical and biological weapons.

Iraq claims it has complied with UN resolutions in this regard.The restrictions were imposed following Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait that sparked the 1991 Gulf War.

Pahad said Mbeki and Schroder both felt that Iraq should respect the UN's resolutions.

"But both agreed that military action will not assist at this point," he said.

It is also reported that former South African president Nelson Mandela earlier in the day came out against a US military attack on Iraq.

According to South African Press Association, Mandela has warned Bush and the United States administration risked destroyingthe United Nations if it attacked Iraq without the international support.

There was no immediate confirmation from Mandela's office that he had spoken to Bush about Iraq.

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