Iraq does not threaten any one, official says

Chairman of the Arab and foreign relations at the Iraqi national council (parliament) Salem al-Kubeisi said on Monday that Iraq does not threaten any one, nor have the intention to attack any one, rather is determinant to restore back its rights.

In a statement he made in Baghdad on Monday, he said that Iraq will continue demanding its full rights either in the issue of oil or in halting the continued daily aggression by the US and British planes against the Iraqi people.

Al-Kubeisi described the reports which spoke about Iraqi intention to attack neighboring states as " fabricated and cheap claims," stressing that Iraq has no such intention.

He added the threats made on Sunday against Iraq by the US defense secretary William Cohen is a " failed" attempt to cover the US real aggressive intentions and its attempt to perpetuate the sanctions, noting that this American move came following the increase of the international move to eliminate the sanctions and put an end to the sufferings of the Iraqi people.

He stressed that these threats will not terrify the Iraqi people who are determinant to work for lifting the oppressive sanctions and halting the US- British aggressions, nor be hesitant to unveil facts before the whole world regardless of enemy threats.

He added that the Iraqi parliament will continue its moves on the Arab and international levels in order to strengthen people and parliamentary pressures in order to end the sanctions. Al-Kubeisi also called on the neighboring states to open its airspace before air flight from and to Iraq.