LAHORE, Feb 6: Iraqi deputy ambassador Adnan Ahmad Al-Rubai on Thursday said the US wanted to attack Iraq to strengthen Israel in the region.
Refuting the evidence against Iraq produced by US Secretary of State Colin Powell in the United Nations, the diplomat said why not America and its allies take notice of Israeli atrocities on innocent Palestinians.
Mr Rubai, who spoke in Arabic, spoke to a gathering of around 250 people belonging to right wing at Alhamra. He had been invited by the Pak-Iraq Friendship Forum in collaboration with an Urdu daily.
He said Iraq could challenge anywhere the evidence produced by the US. “I invite the US to hand over this evidence to the UN inspectors in Iraq as only they can verify it.”
The diplomat said the American propaganda was only aimed at maligning Iraq and strengthen Israel.
“The US and its allies had nothing to do with the humanity or the human rights. They just want to secure Israel. Doesn’t Israel hold the weapons of mass destruction,” he said, adding why not the champions of human rights take its notice.
America and its allies have their own interests and agenda, he said. Top of their agenda was securing and strengthening Israel and curbing the freedom movement (Intefada) of Palestinians.
“The control over Palestine and Iraq is also aimed at ousting the Muslims from their historical and sacred places. Control over Iraqi and Middle Eastern oil reserves is another aim of the US to enrich its economy and build its hegemony over the world.”
However, he warned Iraq would not only defend itself but also the whole Muslims community. “Iraqis are committed that they would defend themselves till the last drop of blood. Let me make it clear to the world that nobody will return safe from Iraq.”
Referring to non-cooperation by the Iraq with the UN inspectors, he said there had been two main objection; one was not to allow the UN’s U-2 plane to participate in the inspection process; and the other was not to let the inspectors to interview the Iraqi scientists. Iraq never denied cooperation for the both demands but has some reservations, he added.
About the UN’s U-2 planes, he said the US and British planes had been bombing Iraq for the last many years. “How would we differentiate between the UN’s U-2 and the American bombers.”
Mr Rubai said Iraq would permit interviews only if an Iraqi government official was allowed to accompany the scientist.