Iraqi parliament denounces strikes on positions out of the no-fly zone

The Iraqi National Council (Parliament) has denounced US and British air strikes of positions outside the no-fly zones in northern and southern Iraq and described these strikes as part of a conspiracy aimed at undermining the unity of Iraq and its territorial integrity.

A member of the foreign relations committee at the Iraqi parliament, Wesam Sami al-Bayati, said in a statement to the BBC on Wednesday that the US and British forces continued bombardment of Iraq, regularly claiming that they are ensuring the safety of their troops.

Al-Bayati called upon the international community to realize the real intention behind this continuous bombardment. He stressed that the US and Britain undermine international norms and play with words.

US and British air strikes have been changed during the few past days from attacking Iraqi defense sites in the no-fly zone areas to strike positions outside these no-fly zones. Iraq claims that the last of these strikes targeted a foodstuff center in al-Najaf city.