UN blast a warning: NZ troops should not go

'The horrific attack on the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad is clear evidence that any New Zealand troops will be seen as part of the army of occupation in Iraq.' said Peace Action Wellington spokesperson Valerie Morse

'New Zealand troops will be serving with a British unit. Wearing different uniforms and painting kiwis on the side of their vans is hardly likely to protect them from attack by Iraqi resistance forces.'

'Minister Phil Goff has said that NZ must not bow down in the face of terror by reconsidering the deployment of 61 engineers to Iraq. But the Minister must remember that many in Iraq view the invasion and continued occupation of their country as terrorist attacks.'

'Given the US influence on the United Nations, including the post facto legitimation of the war on Iraq in UN Resolution 1483, the UN is viewed by many as just an extension of US power.'

Peace Action Wellington calls on the NZ Government to cancel its offer of troops to Iraq.

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