Home>News Center>World | ||
UN offers to help end fighting in Iraq
The United Nations indicated its readiness on Saturday to help end renewed
fighting in Iraq between Shiite militias and the US-led multinational force,
which has reportedly killed more than 300 people in the Shiite holy city of
Najaf alone. Annan "is particularly troubled by the high toll of dead and wounded, including civilian casualties," he said. "The secretary-general believes that, in such a situation, force should be a last resort. He calls for every effort to be made, even at this late hour, to work out a cease-fire and peaceful solution." The world body also welcomed the interim Iraqi government's offer to grant a limited amnesty to insurgents. "Prime Minister (Iyad) Allawi's offer today of a limited amnesty and wider participation in the political process are steps in the right direction," the spokesman said. New UN special representative for Iraq Ashraf Jahangir Qazi will travel to the Iraqi capital of Baghdad to attend Iraq's national conference, due to open on Aug. 15. The UN is currently helping the country prepare for the event which aims to promote reconciliation among Iraqi parties. |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||