Iraq vows to confront US planes

Member of the Iraqi leadership Abdul Ghani Abdul Ghafour said on Sunday that the continuation of US and British attacks under the pretext of the "no-fly zones" or any other justification "is a threat to the UN." He called on UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and the UN Security Council to defend the very existence of the international organization.

Abdul Ghafour said in statements issued on Sunday by the Iraqi daily al-Joumhoureyah that Iraq will continue "confronting enemy planes and down more of them."

He said that Iraqi anti-aircraft missiles had downed several US and British planes in the northern and southern parts of the country.