IRAQ: Iraq hailed massive worldwide anti-war protests as a victory for President Saddam Hussein and proof of the defeat and isolation of a US administration which remains determined to use force to disarm his regime.
"The administration has failed and the Security Council session was a defeat for the US logic of aggression in full view of all citizens of this world," said Ath-Thawra, the mouthpiece of the ruling Ba'ath party.
President Saddam was said to be "more relieved" after the Security Council report, according to papal envoy Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, who met the Iraqi leader for two hours on Saturday.
"He is doing everything to avoid war," said Cardinal Etchegaray, who was due to depart yesterday after carrying a personal message from Pope John Paul II to Saddam.
The government Al-Jumhuriya newspaper noted yesterday that "the four corners of the world witnessed demonstrations in which millions of free people in this world expressed their anger and absolute rejection of the aggressive US threats against Iraq.
"Crowds demonstrated in Washington, New York and all the American cities, and more than a million people demonstrated in Britain to denounce the stupid US policies and express solidarity with Iraq in its confrontation of any US aggression.
"These demonstrations express in their soul and slogans Iraq's victory and the defeat and isolation of the United States," the paper continued.
"The United States was faced with isolation at the Security Council during the speeches of most Security Council members who spoke after the reports of Dr Hans Blix and Dr Mohamed ElBaradei which confirmed Iraq's co-operation."
The paper said the objectives behind US plans to launch war on Iraq were "targeting Iraq's oil and the Arab wealth, with plans for a new map of the Middle East in favour of the Zionist entity" - meaning Israel.
The front page of Bebel, the newspaper of President Saddam Hussein's eldest son, Uday, was filled with pictures of the massive demonstrations in Berlin, Damascus and London.
- (Reuters)