It said that Essy was saddened by the fact that all the efforts by the United Nations Security Council to disarm Iraq peacefully didn't produce the desired results.

The interim chairperson recalled the declaration of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Central Organ of the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution held in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, on Feb. 3, 2003, which expressed Africa's preference for a peaceful resolution of the crises through the United Nations.

The chairperson has also recalled the concerns that African leaders expressed over the impact that war in Iraq would have on African economies.

Essy voiced his concern over the humanitarian consequences of the military confrontation now underway in Iraq, especially its impact on the vulnerable Iraqi civilian population.

Essy appealed to the UN and its agencies not to abandon the long-suffering people of Iraq in their greatest hour of need when they face an uncertain future.

The United States and Britain started launching a military action on Thursday morning after the expiration of the deadline set by US President George W. Bush for Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to leave the country.

In the past two days, US and British warplanes have launched two waves of bombing against Baghdad, capital of Iraq, and other major cities in the country.

(Xinhua News Agency March 21, 2003)