U.S. delegation rallies Baghdad demonstration on ten year anniversary of war on iraq
Iraq-USA, Politics, 1/18/2001

The Iraq Sanctions Challenge, a delegation of 50 activists led by former U.S. Attorney General and founder of the International Action Center (IAC) joined a demonstration in downtown Baghdad on Wednesday marking the 10th anniversary of the U.S.-led war on Iraq.

During the demonstration, the delegation expressed their strong opposition to the sanctions by joining thousands of protesters in chants such as "Down, Down U.S.A" and "Clinton, Albright, You can't hide, Sanctions Equal Genocide."

The group arrived on Saturday night to Baghdad by air the no-fly zone. They have spent the last three days visiting a bomb shelter, elementary schools, a University, water and sewage treatment plants, and hospitals.

The delegation is delivering over $ 1.5 million in medical and school supplies.

Sara Flounders, co-director of IAC, explained, "This is only a drop in the bucket compared to the need created by the sanctions. The donation of these goods is an act of solidarity as was attendance at this demonstration tonight."

In the next two days the delegation will visit a pharmaceutical plant, the health minister, a school for the blind, the Iraqi Women's Federation, a food distribution center, and a battle ground with known concentration of Depleted Uranium (DU) in its soil, among other places.

New Mexican activist Damacio Lopez, who is part of the party, will be collecting soil samples from the DU sites. While the rest of the delegation will be returning to the States, Lopez will take the soil samples to Europe for analysis.

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