Moroccan ngo stages sit-in against war in Iraq

A Moroccan Non-Governmental Organization, "Initiative of Backing to Iraq," staged Thursday a sit-in in front of the headquarters of the United Nations Office in Rabat to protest a possible war against Iraq.

The protesters called on the United Nations "to urgently intervene and dissuade the US Administration from waging a war against the unarmed Iraqi people."

The sit-in is part of a program devised by the "Initiative of Backing to Iraq," Khalid Soufiani, a member of the association, told MAP news agency.

The association intends to stage a demonstration on January 12 in Rabat to show solidarity with the Iraqi people and voice rejection of the use of force against Iraq.

The demonstration will be a distinguished stage in the struggle of the Moroccan people against aggressions targeting the Arab and Islamic Umma (Nation) and of backing to the Palestinian intifada (uprising) and to the resistance of the Iraqi people, said Soufiani.

The Rabat branch of "Initiative of Backing to Iraq" was set up by the Youth Organization of the Istiqlal Party, one of Morocco's major political parties. The branch gathers 50 political organizations, trade unions and human rights, women and youth associations.