Human Rights Commission says war is illegal

The North's Human Rights Commission has declared that the US/British war against Iraq is a violation of international law.

The commission said that while the Iraqi regime was responsible for gross human rights violations, the US and Britain should have used recognised procedures to resolve their dispute with the Iraqi government.

It also expressed doubts about whether securing human rights was one of the main US/British goals, adding that human rights abuses cannot be stopped by committing further abuses.

The Human Rights Commission, which was set up under the Good Friday Agreement, has a legal duty to advise the Northern Secretary.