SA 'not supporting' Hussein

2003-03-18 19:35

Cape Town - Finance Minister Trevor Manuel says his government's stance on Iraq was not one of support of its President Saddam Hussein.

But in a debate on the Appropriation Bill - which was dominated by the expected war by the United States and its allies against Iraq - Manuel said: "I want to state unequivocally ... the position of this government is not a position in support of Saddam Hussein ... it is against unilateralism."

In a clear reference to the United States, he said it was wrong for the "big and ugly to march in anywhere and determine who should rule a country ... that should be fundamentally wrong".

US President George W Bush earlier gave Hussein and his sons 48 hours to leave their country or face military action.

Referring to the "duplicity" of the United States, Manuel said it was well known that Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld "had personally handled Saddam Hussein" and his government had been empowered by the United States in their fight against Iran.

"Let us recognise the duplicity ... let us unite as a nation against unilateralism," said Manuel.

Earlier in the debate Democratic Alliance leader Tony Leon said multilateralism had now failed. There was nothing that South Africa could do to restore the diplomatic process to avert war and the South African government should stop its "flirtation with Saddam Hussein".

"We had coddled the Iraqi regime for far too long. A continued relationship with Saddam is not in our national interest," Leon said. - I-Net Bridge

- I-Net Bridge (Business)