LAHORE, March 30: Millat Party Information Secretary Brig Muhammad Yousaf (retired) says Asian and African countries should set up a parallel United Nations with the help of anti-US states like China, France, Russia and Germany as the one headed by Mr Kofi Annan had melted under the US-UK pressure and failed to discharge its obligations in the wake of Anglo-American invasion of Iraq.

In a statement here on Sunday, he said the world organization was supposed to take all possible steps to avert war and maintain peace. But, he said, it was regrettable that it could not prevent the US and the UK from launching an unjustified attack on Iraq.

He said the first half of the current century belonged to Asia and the second to Africa, and in case countries in the two continents joined hands, they would be in a position to do a lot for the welfare of their people in addition to thwarting the designs of the expansionist forces.

In his opinion the ongoing Anglo-American attack on Iraq would awaken all Islamic countries and they would be in a position to identify their friends and foes and review their policies accordingly.

Also, he believed, the OIC would play an effective role in the times to come as for Islamic countries the United Nations had ceased to exist.

About the Iraq situation, the Millat Party leader said time had come that Pakistan extend all possible support to Baghdad after the US-UK attack.

The invading countries should be told in plain terms that Pakistan was unable to support them when an Islamic country had been targeted. He said the government should reiterate its commitment to fighting terrorism, but refuse to join hands with the invading forces in Iraq.

In his opinion Pakistan should send relief goods and medical teams to Baghdad to help the affected people.

Brig Yousaf said the US and the UK had attacked Iraq only to capture its oil reserves. They would install a government of their own liking in Baghdad to be able to deplete its oil wells without hindrance.

Underlining the need for a greater unity among the Islamic countries, he said unless they joined hands, they would not be in a position to save their interests.

He praised Iran for not exploiting the situation when Iraq, with which it had been at war for eight years, had been attacked by US-UK forces.