Najib Mahfouz: the embargo against Iraq is futile

The Egyptian renowned man of letter Najib Mahfouz has announced that the international embargo imposed on Iraq is " now futile and outdated."

In a statement issued in the Iraqi weekly "Alif, Baa " Mahfouz said " the embargo on Iraq now is for illogical."

Mahfouz who won the Noble literary prize in 1988 added " We know that the war ( Gulf war) has imposed conditions on Iraq and these conditions were carried out. This means the siege should be ended."

This means that the embargo should be ended." He said " it is not logic to continue the siege until children die of hunger. This situation does not please any one, being an Arab or not."

On ways of standing against this embargo, Mahfouz said " first we embark on useful ways in the Arab League and then at the UN I see that most of the Arab leaders have relations with America and the West and those leaders should try to lift the embargo from Iraq."