SIR: The deal made by Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary General, to avert war in the Gulf must be applauded and the United Nations Association Branch in Bolton sincerely hopes that this agreement will be implemented.

The dilemma for peace keepers is simple - Saddam Hussein has failed to comply with the resolutions of the UN on destruction of the weapons of mass destruction and the people of Iraq are the innocent sufferers as sanctions against the country are still in place and they would suffer more if bombing were to begin, all because the conditions set at the end of the Gulf War have not been met by the country's leadership.

We believe that the suffering of the Iraqi people should not be allowed to continue. We believe that the Security Council should urgently finalise a comprehensive list of everything that Iraq needs to do in order to fulfil the demands of the cease fire resolutions of 1991 - that a timetable should be agreed and a step by step approach of lifting sanctions should be made as the original demands are met. This process could be accelerated as the steps are completed.

In the event of Saddam refusing to comply with its resolutions, the Security Council should formally charge him, and his close advisors, with war crimes and crimes against humanity and an international warrant issued for his arrest.

We cannot condone the recent actions of Saddam Hussein nor do we want Iraq to be bombed. We do want peace and we do want a world where justice is honoured.

Rev T McNeile

Chairman, Bolton UNA

?Bank Street Chape

Bolton

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