Iraq urges AL ministerial council to ask for halting strikes against it

Iraq has called on the Arab states, when they will discuss the question of the no-fly zones imposed on northern and southern Iraq, at the Arab foreign ministers' meeting on March 17 and 18 to take a clear-cut stand which provides for asking the US and Britain to halt the use of force against Iraq and to hold the two countries responsible in this respect.

In its explanatory memorandum sent to the Arab League to be submitted to the Arab foreign ministers, Iraq asserted that imposing the two no-fly zones on the northern and southern parts of Iraq embodies oppressive measures in using military force against Iraq's sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence in violation of the UN charter and UN Security Council resolutions.