JEDDAH, 24 March 2003 — The Shoura Council yesterday expressed its disapproval and deep concern over the US-led invasion of Iraq and called for an immediate halt to the devastating war.
“The lives of millions of Iraqis are in danger as a result of this war. While expressing its deep sorrow and concern over this operation, the council urges an immediate end to the war,” the 120-member Shoura said after a weekly meeting.
The meeting, which was presided over by Shoura Chairman Dr. Saleh ibn Abdullah Humaid, also said that the Iraqi issue must be referred back to the UN Security Council.
“The council expressed its strong indignation over the war between Iraq and the United States and its allies and stressed that international legitimacy must be the basis for global dealings,” the Shoura said.
The consultative body, which includes a large number of intellectuals, academics and businessmen, expressed its solidarity with the Iraqi people.
“Iraq’s independence and national unity must be protected and its resources must be managed by its people,” the council said, and commended the efforts made by the Kingdom to avert war.
Earlier, the Shoura discussed the war and its implications. “The consensus was that the war is illegal because it is contrary to Security Council resolutions and international law,” said one member who asked not to be named.
“There was also consensus that the war should be condemned because it is not conducive to a peaceful resolution of (the crisis over) Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction or the future of a stable and prosperous Iraq,” he added.
Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal urged the United States and Iraq on Saturday to halt what he termed an illegitimate war, which risked igniting further Arab anger.
The Shoura said the efforts of UN weapons inspectors in Iraq had been moving in the right direction. “But America, Britain and its allies decided to go to war, ignoring calls for peace by millions around the world.”
Saudi Arabia has publicly opposed a war on Iraq and said it would not allow attacks to be launched from its soil.
The Council was set up in 1993 as part of political reforms introduced by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd.
