'Iraq invasion could have same result as Ireland occupation'

The invasion of Iraq by US and UK-led forces could have the same consequences as the British occupation of Ireland, a leading Sinn Fein figure said today.

As US President George W Bush flew to Belfast for a war summit with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Sinn Fein chairman Mitchel McLaughlin hit back at Ulster Unionist criticism of his party’s opposition to the war.

Responding to earlier criticism from UUP leader David Trimble, Mr McLaughlin said Sinn Fein’s commitment to peace could not be questioned.

Earlier, Mr Trimble while extending his sympathies to the families of two Irish Guards killed in combat in Basra queried how Sinn Fein, with its links to the IRA, could claim to be against war.

“The families of the Ulster and Irish servicemen who are engaged in Iraq will look on with a little bit of amazement and a little bit of hurt at the behaviour of those who are playing games with their so-called anti-war stance,” the 1998 Nobel Peace Prize laureate said.

“Because when we look at some of the people that are engaged in that and we wonder when they became anti-war.

“When we look at the Irish republican involvement in this, these were people who were quite happy to kill for an ignoble cause, who were prepared to pursue a war to undermine democracy and who now oppose the liberation of people and the freeing of them from what is undoubtedly an evil dictatorship.

“So we look at the prancing around of some individuals and there will be a sense of hurt among those who are standing alongside coalition forces at this time.“

However, Mr McLaughlin insisted the Upper Bann MP was wrong to make a direct comparison between the war in Iraq and Ireland.

“Certainly the republican community here would regard themselves as a community who have been victimised and suppressed by the use of state force,” the Foyle MLA said.

“The peace process is aimed at addressing that.

“If there is a comparison, it could be that what is happening in Iraq could create the same kind of scenario as we have had because this action does not have international approval, it does not have United Nations backing.

“Sinn Fein understands and has sympathy for those who have been bereaved and injured in this conflict – especially the thousands upon thousands of Iraqi civilians.

“Our credentials on peace cannot be called into question when you look at the key role we have played towards a just and lasting peace in Ireland – something David Trimble cannot even deny.”

President Bush is due to arrive in Belfast this afternoon with US Secretary of State Colin Powell and their adviser on Northern Ireland, Ambassador Richard Haass.

Mr Bush will dine with Mr Blair at the Queen’s official residence in Northern Ireland, Hillsborough Castle in Co Down and take part in a summit on Iraq and the Middle East peace process.

The two leaders will be joined by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern at the summit venue tomorrow for lunch.

The three politicians will then meet representatives of the pro-Good Friday Agreement parties in Northern Ireland for a discussion on the province’s peace process.

Opponents of war were due to stage a protest tonight near the summit venue in Hillsborough as President Bush’s plane Air Force One touched down.

A prayer vigil in support of the coalition forces and British servicemen was also due to be staged outside Belfast City Hall attended by Mr Trimble and Ulster Unionist Assembly member Sir John Gorman.

Mr McLaughlin said today that while it would be “very difficult” for Sinn Fein to take part in tomorrow’s discussions with President Bush and Mr Blair, the party’s involvement in the round table meeting did not mean any dilution of its anti-war stance.

“Our clear priority is the peace process,” he told PA News.

“ don’t think anybody in the anti-war campaign would expect us to set aside our interest in the process because of the war nor do I believe those people would squander any opportunity that would come their way to put their opposition to the war directly to the US President and the British Prime Minister.”

Nationalist SDLP leader Mark Durkan also expressed reservations about the decision of Mr Blair and Mr Bush to combine discussions about the war with efforts to resolve remaining problems in the Northern Ireland peace process.

The Foyle MLA said: “I have made it clear that what I am uneasy about is this mixed summit – co-locating discussions about the prosecution of the war in Iraq with discussions about our peace process.

“I accept that they are separate discussions but I am not happy with the co-location of those discussions. I have made that clear. I registered that point with all three governments on Friday night and I have also reflected that point publicly.

“I am not going to disguise that. I am determined to take part in whatever talks there are about our situation but I am not going to be dishonest and hypocritical enough to pretend that I do not have misgivings about the circumstances in which those discussions are taking place.”