Religious express opposition to Iraq war

Representatives of the Muslim and Christian faiths in Ireland have united to express their opposition to US/British plans for a pre-emptive war against Iraq.

Rev Pat Hannon, the professor of moral theology at St Patrick's College in Maynooth said the planned war would be clearly unwarranted under the 'Just War Doctrine' because it would be an aggressive rather than defensive war and because it could further destabilise the Middle East.

Khairi Duibi, a spokesman for the Muslim Association of Ireland, said he opposes Saddam Hussein's Iraqi regime, but also opposes the US/British war plans. "The outcome of it is we will suffer," he said.