Sinn Féin urges Iraq protest during Bush visit

Sinn Féin was calling today for people to voice their opposition to the occupation of Iraq during George Bush’s forthcoming visit to Ireland.

In a detailed motion to be published today, the five Sinn Féin TDs accuse the Government of “assisting hundreds of thousands of US troops to participate in the illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq”.

They claim Irish assistance in the war has contributed to a situation where thousands of people are being killed.

The statement expresses anger at the cost of the war, which it claims includes an estimated spend of more than £100bn (€83.6bn) by the US alone.

Sinn Féin also criticises “the torture and killing of Iraqi prisoners of war by US and British occupation troops” and demands the immediate suspension of overflight and landing privileges granted to US aircraft by the Government.

Aengus O Snodaigh TD said: “Supporting this war in any shape or form goes against the wishes of the people of Ireland and against our neutrality.”

The motion urges people to peacefully register their opposition to the occupation of Iraq when the US President visits Ireland during the US-EU Summit on June 25-26.

All parties were expected to make statements on the current situation in Iraq in the Dáil this afternoon.