OIC concern over plans to strike Iraq

The Organization of the Islamic Conference has expressed its anxiety over the dangers of launching any American military strike against Iraq. The OIC also called for exerting further diplomatic efforts for reaching a solution to this crisis.

In a message addressed to the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and circulated on Sunday in Riyadh, OIC secretary Ezzeddine al-Iraqi stressed increasing tension in the Gulf region is a result of the deterioration of relations between Baghdad and the UN committee in charge of dismantling Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, UNSCOM.

He also said the possibility of launching any military strike against Iraq would cause deep concern in the Islamic world.

The message asked Annan to exert the utmost efforts to make all sides concerned commit themselves to self-control, avoiding the use of power and embarking on diplomatic means to solve this crisis.