A US-led war on Iraq is likely to start within hours or days as the clock ticks down towards the US-imposed 48-hour deadline for Saddam Husseine and his sons to leave Iraq. US-led coalition troops are mobilizing actively in the Gulf Region, especially in northern Kuwait near the border with Iraq. Rejecting the US ultimatum, Baghdad seems to have made up its mind to embrace the imminent war despite its far weaker military power than the coalition.
US-led Coalition Troops Mobilizing Actively
The US-led coalition troops are mobilizing and on the move in northern Kuwait. Tens of thousands of US and British troops are in the desert area, preparing to attack Iraq and are only waiting for war orders. The troop movement came at a time when sandstorm limits visibility to just meters.
Hours ago, US warplanes bombed Iraqi targets after aircraft patrolling the southern no-fly zone in western Iraq were fired on by Iraqi air defense forces. It was reported that the US war planes were from the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Gulf.
In order to gain support of waving Iraqi soldiers and citizens in the coming military action, US planes are reportedly dropping millions of leaflets in southeastern Iraq.
Meanwhile, representatives of Iraqi opposition factions met in Ankara, Turkey to discuss the formation of an interim government after Saddam is ousted.
Iraqi participants included Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Jalal Talabani, Turkoman Front leader Sanan Ahmet Aga, Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) representative Nechirvan Barzani,Iraqi National Congress (INC) Chairman Ahmed Celebi and the representative of the Supreme Islamic Revolutionary Council of Iraq Abdallah Al-Haqim.
Iraq Seemingly Makes Up Mind to Fight US-led Troops
News reports said that lines of Iraqi tanks have left Baghdad, probably for fighting US-led coalition troops. In northern Iraq, troops loyal to Saddam are also mobilizing frequently.
Iraqi's parliament began an emergency session to show their support to Saddam.
Saadum Hammadi, Speaker of the National Assembly, rejected US President George W. Bush's ultimatum demanding the Iraqi leader and his sons to leave the country or face the war within 48-hour.
Britain Prepares for the Imminent War
Britain, the staunchest ally of the United States, is exerting its efforts to prepare for the imminent war.
Britain is preparing a war cabinet. Prime Minister Tony Blair met a group of key ministers, officials and military chiefs who are expected to form his war cabinet.
Blair said toppling Saddam's regime is the prime objective of the war on Baghdad.
"It is the case that if the only means of achieving the disarmament of Iraq of weapons of mass destruction is the removal of the regime, then the removal of the regime has to be our objective," Blair said.
Blair said senior members of Saddam's government "will be held accountable for what they have done." However, he claimed that the quarrel is not with the Iraqi people.
Military maneuver has been strengthened in Britain. Several heavy trucks were seen rolling toward US B-52 bombers deployed at British RAF Fairford.
At the same time, Downing Street is urging Britons to rally behind their troops.
"It is now time for all of us in parliament and in the country to come together and show the support our armed forces deserve," said Blair's official spokesman.
The British government even urged its people to stock up on food and batteries.
"It is sensible to be prepared for any emergency in the home and to make plans for any major disruption, including severe weather and floods," a statement released by British government said.
Other Countries? Reactions
Poland closed its embassy in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad and evacuated all six diplomats to neighboring Jordan. The Polish government made the decision for the embassy closure and evacuation on the safety ground, a Polish official said.
Iran also announced that it was withdrawing all diplomatic staff from Iraq as a US-led war is approaching.
"After a worsening of the crisis and because of the risks of war, the foreign ministry has recalled all its staff from Iraq," the Iranian Foreign Ministry said.
Germany seems to have slightly changed it staunch anti-war position on the verge of the Iraq war. German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said his country would give the United States the permission of using its airspace and military bases in Germany in the event of war on Iraq.
"We have clearly defined our position on a war against Iraq... But this clear position, which is different from that of the United States and Britain, doesn't change the fact that they are alliance partners and friendly nations," he told the parliament.
The Turkish government announced that it would ask the parliament only to give consent for US warplanes to use its airspace when the war on Iraq broke out.
The announcement showed a clear sign that Washington's efforts to deploy thousands of US troops on Turkish soil had ended.
The government was currently preparing to put new proposals to a parliamentary vote on Wednesday or Thursday to open Turkish airspace to US planes in the event of war.
Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said his country would take no active part in the war.
"Italy will not participate directly in military operations, it will send neither troops nor equipment to Iraq," he said.
But Berlusconi also emphasized that the use of force against Iraq was legitimate and that no one could expect Italy to act against the United States and Britain, which has been its allies for decades.
(Xinhua News Agency March 20, 2003)
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