- Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has reiterated
his opposition to a US-led war against Iraq, warning that the United Nations
could "die a moral death" if it succumbs to pressure from Washington.
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- Vajpayee's BJP party spokesman Vijay Kumar Malhotra said:
"The Prime Minister said that the international situation is worsening
(and) there is a possibility of war in Iraq."
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- "We don't want war, a majority of nations also don't
want war, but they are unable to say so," Mr Malhotra quoted Prime
Minister Vajpayee as saying.
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- "Also there is fear that the United Nations organisation
becomes ineffective and dies a moral death if it takes any step under US
pressure," Prime Minister Vajpayee said.
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- His comments came days after Defence Minister George
Fernandes said it would be "inconceivable" for the United States
to attack Iraq.
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- India has already spoken out against any unilateral US
attack on Iraq but urged Baghdad to come clean on weapons of mass destruction.
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- <>© 2003 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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- This service may include material from Agence France-Presse
(AFP), AAP(International), APTN, Reuters, CNN and the BBC World Service
which is copyright and cannot be reproduced.
- http://abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s787404.htm
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