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EU Still Mum on US-British Air Raid Against Iraq
The European Union (EU) is still mum Monday on US-British air strikes against Iraq on Friday.
The European Commission, the executive body of the 15-nation bloc, merely told the press that the commission did not have a public statement to make at the moment and nor did it study the legal basis for the bombing.
"The issue is now in the hands of the United Nations Security Council," said a spokesman of the commission.
He sidestepped a question on whether Britain, as an EU member, had complied with U.N. Security Council resolutions which did not justify bombings against Iraq. He replied that the question should have been directed to Britain.
He indicated that the EU would not like to see sanctions against Baghdad lifted. The sanctions took place for precise reasons and would remain as long as the reasons remain, he said.
Meanwhile, he said the commission would not take sides with the member states holding different views regarding the sanctions against the Gulf nation.
Some EU member states are now in favor of immediately lifting the sanctions that are blamed for causing humanitarian disaster in Iraq, especially among children, women and the aged, while some others hold that the sanctions can be lifted only after Iraq complies with UN resolutions.
Although Iraq urged the removal of the sanctions imposed after its invasion of Kuwait in 1990, the UN insists that Iraq first allow arms inspectors back to the country to ensure Iraq is not developing weapons of mass destruction.
A total of 24 U.S. and British warplanes bombed Iraq on Friday night, reportedly killing two people and wounding 20 others. The attack was said to be aimed at the Iraqi air defense and radar sites south of Baghdad.
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