Russia opposes any U.S. attacks on Iraq

By Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW, OCT. 3. Russia would react strongly to any attacks on Iraq by the U.S. under a global anti-terrorist operation, Moscow's envoy to Baghdad said.

``Russia's reaction will be very tough if the U.S. attacks Iraq,'' Russian television quoted the envoy as saying to Russian reporters in Baghdad. ``Iraq has given no pretext, nor are there any U.N. Security Council resolutions to justify such attacks.''

The Russian Ambassador was commenting on a statement by Iraq's Vice-Premier, Mr. Tariq Aziz, that Iraq was bracing for possible U.S. strikes. ``We are indeed expecting the U.S. action against us and it will not come as a surprise,'' the RIA Novosti news agency quoted Mr. Aziz.

The Iraqi leader stressed that ``Iraq has no links with terrorists, including Osama bin Laden.'' ``We're not with terrorism, we're against terrorism,'' Mr. Aziz said, voicing Baghdad's readiness to take part in a U.N. conference ``to find out what is terrorism and identify its roots.''

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : CPJ asks Taliban to free British journalist