Non-Aligned Movement opposes war

Kuala Lumpur - Foreign ministers from more than half the countries in the world today urged Iraq to comply with U.N. resolutions but made clear their opposition to a U.S.-led war.

A declaration prepared for a Non-Aligned Movement summit also said that if Iraq continued to cooperate with U.N. inspectors in eliminating weapons of mass destruction, the debilitating sanctions imposed on the country since the 1991 Persian Gulf War should be lifted.

The draft declaration endorsed today by the foreign ministers addressed U.S. concerns by stressing that Iraq must comply with Security Council Resolution 1441 -- which established a tough inspections process to disarm Iraq. But the document left no doubt that the Non-Aligned Movement does not want to see an attack.

"We reiterate our commitment to the fundamental principles of the non-use of force and respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and security of all member states," the document said.

Leaders of the movement's 114 nations were expected to approve the declaration at the summit, which starts Monday. The movement, comprising mostly developing nations, represents 55 percent of the world's population and nearly two-thirds of the members in the United Nations. -- Washington Post

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