Parliament on Monday rubberstamped Iraqi President Saddam Hussein’s uncontested candidacy for another seven-year term in a direct challenge to US plots to oust him ”who inspires fear” and who has held power since 1979.
In a show of hands, the 250-member house unanimously approved the recommendation of the Revolution Command Council, Iraq’s senior ruling body, which on Thursday nominated Saddam.
”This historic session reflects the rallying of the people around the leadership of President Saddam Hussein to renew their allegiance to him as leader of Iraq while our country is facing aggressive US threats,” parliamentary speaker Saadun Hammadi said in a speech before the vote.
Support for Saddam’s candidacy ”is a direct response to all attempts aimed at undermining the will of Iraqis and their own choices.
”I urge you to support the candidacy of this noble fighter, son of the people and protector of the principles of the Baath party,” Hammadi said.
Under the constitution, the command council puts forwards a candidate for the presidency of the Iraqi republic who is then approved by the parliament and popular referendum, set in this case for October 15.
Saddam officially won the first such referendum in 1995 with 99,96% of the vote, ruling uncontested over a country which has been bled by UN sanctions in force since 1990 when Iraq invaded Kuwait.
The 65-year-old heads the Revolution Command Council, is general secretary of the ruling Baath party, head of state, prime minister and commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
The United States has repeatedly threatened to take military action against Iraq to oust Saddam for allegedly again developing weapons of mass destruction. Iraq denies the accusations.
But Republican lawmakers and leading military and political figures in the United States are increasingly voicing their fears over potential US military action in Iraq, echoing reservations of key US allies.
President George Bush has not yet decided to invade Iraq, White House communications director Dan Bartlett stressed on Sunday, but Saddam’s quest to obtain weapons of mass destruction ”is a danger that we must confront.”
The White House maintains that Saddam also warrants removal because of an ”abysmal” track record on human rights since he took power in 1979, Bartlett told ABC television.
”He is somebody who violates the human rights of his own people, murders his own peoples, invades other countries, is developing and seeking weapons of mass destruction.”
Ath-Thawra newspaper, mouthpiece of the ruling Baath party in Baghdad, renewed its accusations on Monday that Washington was exploiting Iraq’s alleged prohibited arms as an excuse ”to interfere in the affairs of Iraq and to carry out a new widescale attack against it without taking into account the consequences for the region and the whole world.
”In the vocabulary of Bush junior’s administration, fighting terrorism means fighting Arabs and Muslims, humiliating them, changing their beliefs and controlling their wealth and oil revenues.
”The Arabs and Muslims should not behave like ostriches when they face danger … they must be united and shoulder their responsibilities against this crusade,” the daily charged.
Babel newspaper, run by Saddam’s elder son, Uday, called on UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to agree to Iraq’s new offer of talks about a possible return of weapons inspectors and ”avoid global catastrophe”.
”We still believe that Kofi Annan has an opportunity to review his position and thus help to avoid a global catastrophe from which not even the Americans will be sheltered,” the tabloid said.
Baghdad has invited the world body’s chief weapons inspector to discuss new inspections and urged the United Nations to continue dialogue.
General Norman Schwarzkopf, who led the US military operation against Iraq in 1990 under Bush’s father George Bush, stressed that the views of Middle Eastern and European allies — who mostly caution against immediate military action — must also be taken into account.
”It would be more effective if we didn’t have to do it alone,” he told NBC. ”It’s not going to be an easy battle.” – Sapa-AFP