Russian President Boris Yeltsin has said that the worst was over in the dispute, but again sounded a warning that U.S. military action could unleash a world war.
India warns against military action in Iraq crisis
NEW DELHI, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Indian Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral has written to the United Nations chief to warn that military force against Iraq would only complicate the situation, the foreign ministry said on Thursday.
''Gujral has...strongly stressed that any military conflict would aggravate the enormous suffering which the people of Iraq have undergone because of the sanctions regime,'' the ministry said in a statement.
A foreign ministry spokesman told reporters that the letter to Secretary-General Kofi Annan reiterated India's support for U.N. resolutions seeking to destroy weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
The letter, which followed others to U.S. President Bill Clinton and leaders of the other permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, said India was ready to contribute to the process of finding a peaceful solution to Iraq's reluctance to co-operate with U.N. arms inspectors.
The United States, with support from Britain, has said it will use military force if Iraq refuses to back down on the inspections issue.
Clinton was due to confer in Washington on Thursday with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, his closest ally in the crisis.
Russian President Boris Yeltsin has said that the worst was over in the dispute, but again sounded a warning that U.S. military action could unleash a world war.
Gujral's letter expressed particular concern for the plight of women and children in Iraq, who the statement said were the most adversely affected and the main victims of malnutrition and shortage of medical supplies.
''In this context, Prime Minister Gujral has expressed his appreciation to the U.N. Secretary General for...recommending expansion of the oil-for-food programme to ameliorate the acute hardships of the Iraqi people,'' the statement added.
Gujral drew the U.N. chief's attention to the fact that disruption of peace and stability in the Gulf, where India has energy interests and a number of citizens, would have a ''serious adverse effect'' on India's economy and national welfare.
The spokesman, noting that New Delhi was in touch at the highest levels with Iraq, said the letters were a serious attempt by India to engage in dialogue on the crisis. ^REUTERS@
18:00 02-05-98
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