April 3, 2003	Thursday	Muharram 30, 1424

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JEDDAH, April 2: Former prime minister Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif has expressed his deep anguish and disappointment at the ongoing war against Iraq.

In a brief ‘on-record’ discussion with Dawn at his residence in Jeddah, where he now lives in exile with his extended family, he said the war was being waged without any moral basis, as it had neither been endorsed by the United Nations nor approved by the world community. He said it should be brought to an end immediately.

Mr Sharif urged the Muslims and the world to take cognizance of the deplorable situation in Iraq. He expressed his deep dismay at the turn of events.

Mr Sharif said one of the major reasons for the war against Iraq was to ensure Israeli hegemony in the region. “This war would have grave consequences for the entire region,” he asserted, and “needs to be opposed at all fronts”.

He said the invading forces in Iraq were already under pressure and a few more weeks of spirited resistance would compel the allied forces to rethink their options on the war.