ISLAMABAD, Feb 16: Former prime minister Mian Nawaz Sharif has appealed to the US to pay heed to the world opinion as well as the protests voiced in the United States and to review its policy of attacking Iraq.

In a statement issued by party’s camp office here, the exiled leader of the PML-N said: “Such a review was essential not only for reducing the bitterness and misunderstanding with regard to US relations with the Muslim world, but also for the promotion of friendly ties in future.”

Mr Sharif said that if the US listened to the world opinion and gave up its intention of attacking Iraq, it would gain much prestige and earn more true friends round the world.

He said that there was no justification of an attack after the chief arms inspector’s report to the UN Security Council; permission by Iraq to the US spy planes’ flight over its territory; Iraqi ban on the import of weapons of mass destruction and the opposition by Nato members and UN Security Council. Since the world had become a global village, the opinion of a majority must be respected and an atmosphere of mutual confidence must be created, he added.

He said, in the interest of world peace and a genuine world order principles of justice, human rights and equality must be upheld.