topic by
John Calvin
8/7/2002 (16:55) |
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Church leaders in anti-war warning
By Benedict Brogan, Political Correspondent and Toby Helm in Berlin
(Filed: 07/08/2002)
Church leaders, backed by the Archbishop of Canterbury elect, lent support to the campaign against war on Iraq yesterday by warning Tony Blair that military action against Saddam Hussein would be 'immoral and illegal'.
As MPs stepped up their demands for a recall of Parliament, bishops and other religious leaders endorsed a 'Christian Declaration' signed by nearly 3,000 people that was delivered to 10 Downing Street.
The document, prepared by the Pax Christi anti-war group, condemned efforts to link action against Iraq with the 'war on terrorism'.
'We deplore any military action that regards the deaths of innocent men, women and children as a price worth paying in fighting terrorists, since this is to fight terror with terror,' the document declared. Its organisers said they would deliver updated lists of signatories to Downing Street as more names were added.
The protest came as tensions between Britain and Germany over Iraq broke into the open, with Chancellor Schröder's deputy publicly attacking Mr Blair for supporting Washington's hawkish line.
Michael Müller, deputy leader of the Social Democrats, told the Rheinische Post that the Chancellor was very disturbed by his British counterpart's pro-American stance which, he feared, could provoke a split within the EU.
The paper said Mr Müller was relaying the Chancellor's 'great concern'. The remarks followed statements by Mr Schröder and fellow Social Democrats in recent days, in which they have opposed German participation in military action against Baghdad, even if it was backed by a new resolution of the United Nations.
Previously, Mr Schröder's government, which approved sending troops to Afghanistan, had hinted that it might be prepared to support military intervention in Iraq if a new UN mandate was agreed.
EU diplomats fear that Mr Schröder's remarks might tempt other European nations that privately oppose a new war with Iraq to say so.
Mr Schröder's tougher anti-American rhetoric, and his willingness to criticise Mr Blair, has been attacked by opponents as a pitch for votes ahead of the general election.
Yesterday's 'Christian Declaration' condemned the sanctions applied against Iraq and said a 'pre-emptive war' was banned under the terms of the UN Charter.
It called on America and Britain to accept the Iraqi offer of allowing UN weapons inspectors back into the country - which was rejected by Washington and London - and for Western arsenals to be opened to inspection as well.
It concluded: 'An attack on Iraq would be both immoral and illegal. Eradicating the dangers posed by malevolent dictators and terrorists can be achieved only by tackling the root causes of the disputes themselves.' Dr Rowan Williams signed the document, but before he was confirmed as the Archbishop of Canterbury-designate.
Another signatory, the Anglican Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Rev John Perry, said the action being contemplated by the US with British support did not meet Christian criteria.
Ahmad Fawzi, the UN representative in London, said Saddam's offers to allow weapons inspectors back in Iraq should be examined.
news.telegrap.co.uk
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