JCP chair urges prime minister to oppose US war on Iraq

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on September 6 requested Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro use the Japan-U.S. summit on September 12 to tell U.S. President George W. Bush to forego military strikes against Iraq.

This was at a meeting between the four opposition leaders and Prime Minister Koizumi Junichiro at the prime minister's official residence.

Pointing out that the United States has not shown any convincing evidence that Iraq supports terrorists and is developing weapons of mass destruction, Shii said that attacking Iraq out of animosity will be a pre-emptive attack which is in contravention of the U.N. Charter.

Shii said that Koizumi should take into account the growing international criticism. He reminded Koizumi of the fact that France, Italy, Germany, and China as well as Middle East countries are opposed to the U.S. plan to attack Iraq. (end)