Thursday, April 03, 2003

British MP denounces war
'[Glasgow MP George] Galloway, meanwhile, defended an interview in which he branded Mr Blair and the US president, George Bush, as "wolves" for committing the "crime" of military action against Iraq. In an interview for Abu Dhabi TV, he questioned why Arab countries were selling oil to the coalition forces, and accused Mr Blair and Mr Bush of lying to the armed forces about the likely length of the war.

'The MP rejected suggestions that his interview amounted to an act of treachery. He said: "As for being a traitor, the people who have betrayed this country are those who have sold it to a foreign power and who have been the miserable surrogates of a bigger power for reasons very few people in Britain can understand."

'He added: "Given that I believe this invasion is illegal, it follows that the only people fighting legally are the Iraqis, who are defending their country." Mr Galloway denied that his interview amounted to incitement to Arabs to kill British troops. But he added: "The best thing British troops can do is to refuse to obey illegal orders."

'Mr Galloway, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live this morning, predicted that the international criminal court would one day sit in judgment on British policy makers and officers. America does not recognise the court's jurisdiction. He said: "I believe the international criminal court will, in years to come, take legal action against the British policy makers and some officers for the prosecution of illegal orders."'

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