PM sticking to position over Iraq

By JOHN ARMSTRONG political editor

The Prime Minister believes the weekend's outpouring of anti-war sentiment sends a clear message to the United States and Britain to use all diplomatic means to avert war with Iraq.

But Helen Clark is resisting calls made following local peace rallies for New Zealand to be far more vocal in speaking out against unilateral US-led military action.

"I am not prepared to change the position I have taken," she said.

Avoiding overt criticism of Washington, Helen Clark has argued that United Nations weapons inspectors should be given more time to secure disarmament before the Security Council passes a further resolution authorising the use of force.

She described the number of people protesting in London - estimated to have been at least 750,000 - as particularly significant.

"There is a very clear message coming from most countries that they want the multilateral process to keep charge of it," she said, referring to efforts to get Iraq to comply with UN resolutions to disarm.

At this stage, however, the Americans were still working through the UN. "They're still in there."

The Prime Minister said the turnout at New Zealand rallies was relatively small compared with anti-Springbok tour and Vietnam War era protests.

In the latter two cases, protest marches had been directed against the Government of the day, whereas her Government was not presenting itself "as that kind of target" in terms of its policy on Iraq.


Herald feature: Iraq