BAGHDAD, Sept 14: US representative Nick Rahall launched on Saturday a mission in Iraq in a bid “to give peace a chance”.

“We are on a humanitarian mission, sponsored by the Institute for Public Accuracy,” (IPA) the Democrat from Virginia told reporters.

“We have with us individuals from Conscience International who have been to this country many times before, working with the people of Iraq in an effort to alleviate their suffering,” said Rahall.

“I am also here to convince the Iraqi people that the American people are concerned about their suffering, and to show the Iraqi people that American people for their vast majority are peace-wagering individuals, not war-mongerers.

“We want to give peace a chance. If this mission in any way can move that process toward a peaceful resolution we feel this will have the potential to be a historic mission.”

The US State Department has approved the three-day mission.

“We have no meetings (with Iraqi officials) confirmed but should that opportunity present itself, it is my desire to stress upon the Iraqi government and its president that they must grant unconditioned and unfettered access to their country by UN weapons inspectors.”

Rahall is accompanied by IPA director Norman Salomon, James Jennings of Conscience International, an Atlanta-based human rights group.—AFP