Iraq calls for halting US-British raids

Baghdad called on the UN Security Council to halt the continued US-British invasions of Iraqi airspace.

Meanwhile, El-Thawra newspaper, the mouthpiece of the ruling Baath party criticized the Security Council for not taking a decisive and clear stand towards the continued raids launched by its two permanent member states on Iraq, and called for the lifting of international sanctions to end the suffering of the Iraqi people.

It also called for a halt of US - British intervention in the internal affairs of Iraq, confirming that the targeting of civilians will increase the insistence of Iraqis.

In the meantime, Iraq criticized yesterday UN Secretary General Kofi Annan due to the continuation of NATO strikes on Yugoslavia.

El-Thawra newspaper described the recent peace mission of Annan as very late and dictated by Washington, saying that Annan did not move or act to find a political solution for the struggle that erupted in Kosovo until he received orders from Washington.