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Austrian Body Condemns US, British Air Raids Against Iraq
Secretary-General of the Association of Austrian-Arabian Relations Fritz Edlinger slapped on Sunday the recent US and British air strike against Iraq as sabre-rattling by a lightweight president.
In a news release from the association, he said it was obvious that US President George W. Bush, who became president with less popular votes than his Democratic rival Al Gore, was set to continue his country's fruitless Iraq policy that has inflicted tremendous losses upon the Iraqi people.
Edlinger noted that most of the United States' allies in the Gulf War have insisted on lifting the decade-long UN sanctions against Iraq. He urged European countries to distinctly stand against the barbaric policy of the United States.
US and British warplanes launched the first Western air strike near the Iraqi capital of Baghdad in more than two years, killing two civilians and injuring many others. The attack roused international concern and criticism for threatening Middle East stability.
France, a member of the Gulf War coalition, demanded an explanation for the raids from Bush, adding such attacks undermined efforts to solve the Iraq problem.
Another report from Austria's state news agency said that regardless of the air raids, a group of Austrian scientists and business representatives left for Baghdad Sunday to attend the Austrian Scientists' Meeting in Iraq, which is organized by the Association of Austrian-Arabian Relations.
The group, which includes former foreign minister Erwin Lanc and several former parliamentarians, has taken with it 4 million schillings (US$2.12 million) worth of medicines and food for children for hospitals in Baghdad and Basra.
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