7 - 13 November 2002 Issue No. 611 Editorial	Current issue Previous issue Site map
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875		Recommend this page

Ramadan encore

For the second year running Muslims around the world are entering the month of Ramadan in sombre mood. Last year's celebration of Ramadan was especially muted, played out against the backdrop of Washington's campaign against Afghanistan. Millions watched the suffering of the Afghan people and the horrors of modern warfare on television. And this year, too, Ramadan begins as the war drums pound. Hundreds of thousands of lives in the region could be at risk if the West launches a strike against Iraq.

War with Iraq can still be averted. Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has indicated that he will consider a new Security Council resolution as long as it is not just an excuse for US military action. It is the first time he has issued a statement since the Security Council began discussing a new resolution several weeks ago. Baghdad signaled its willingness to accept a resolution which respects the UN Charter, international law and Iraqi sovereignty, security and independence.

Washington, too, has said it expects to submit a new draft resolution to the Security Council. The new draft resolution is expected to resolve disagreements among other members of the Security Council and allay French and Russian fears that it might give an automatic right to the US and Britain to launch an attack if they decided that Iraq has not complied with the tough new conditions Washington and London want the resolution to spell out. President Hosni Mubarak has pleaded with the Iraqi regime to "seize the opportunity" in order to "avoid serious repercussions".

The Arab and Muslim worlds have serious reservations about unilateral military action against Iraq. Unequivocal and unanimous Arab League statements vigorously oppose unilateral military action. Arab states would prefer a diplomatic solution to be found, and Arab and Muslim public opinion is firmly opposed to any US attack on Baghdad.

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