(28 Feb 1998) Eng/Spanish/Nat
Hundreds of protesters marched on the U-N in New York on Saturday, calling for an end to sanctions against Iraq.
The protest was timed to coincide with U-N Security Council meetings to consider Secretary-General Kofi Annan's weapons inspection deal with Saddam Hussein.
The protestors said the U-N sanctions amounted to an economic war on Iraq.
15-hundred protestors marched through the streets of central New York towards the United Nations buildings, voicing their opposition to the trade embargo on Iraq.
The demonstration took place as the U-N Security Council met to discuss Kofi Annan's peace deal with Saddam Hussein, agreed last week.
The marchers said the embargo, in place since 1991, was as much a lethal weapon as the biological weapons Saddam Hussein is said to hold.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"While the United States is killing people by using these genocidal sanctions, we are here as human beings, as Arabs and as Muslims to say "No!" No more killing innocent people on the pretext of mass destruction weapons, when you are killing people with mass destruction weapons. No more, we do not want innocent people dying."
SUPER CAPTION: Omar Barazi, Protestor
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"This is racist, we have got to remove the belief in the American people that Iraqi life is somehow worth less than American life. It is not. We have got to see each other as human in human terms. It is our responsibility to stop our government from committing genocide on a massive scale."
SUPER CAPTION: Mary Green, Protestor
Whilst the demonstration made for an impressive spectacle, a recent poll in "Newsweek" magazine indicated that nearly two thirds of Americans do back President Clinton's handling of the crisis with Iraq, even though most do not think the U-N-brokered agreement will last.
About the same number also said they do not think Saddam Hussein will stick to the weapons inspection agreement.
And 44 percent say they think the U-S will attack Iraq within the next year.
However, 55 percent added that the agreement was worthwhile, as they were not in favour of an immediate military confrontation
This last sentiment was certainly one shared by demonstrators on Saturday.
Protestors who converged on Time Square for a rally said they had faith in the American people's sense of compassion.
SOUNDBITE: (Arabic)
"Hard working Americans who do not work for the government would like to assist Iraq and give a hand to Iraqis who are being killed by the sanctions, especially women and children."
SUPER CAPTION: Hoda Zein, Protestor
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"I am on holiday, but I am here because I find it very interesting that there is a demonstration by the U-S armed forces in Iraq, because it would be motivated by economic interests. I am simply against genocide."
SUPER CAPTION: Maria Sierra, Protestor
Neither did protestors miss the opportunity to bring up the sex scandal surrounding President Clinton.
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