Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=08/06/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE= BRITAIN / IRAQ / U-S (L-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-292805

BYLINE= TOM RIVERS

DATELINE= LONDON

CONTENT=

INTRO: More than two thousand religious leaders in Britain have signed a petition expressing opposition to any military attack on Iraq. As Tom Rivers reports from London, the petition has been delivered to Prime Minister Tony Blair's official residence, 10 Downing Street.

TEXT: Over two thousand five hundred names of religious groups and church leaders from many denominations appear on the petition including the name of the incoming archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, who will assume his new role in October.

The declaration, drawn up by the Christian peace group Pax Christi, calls any such attacks immoral and illegal.

The protest comes at a time when it appears that Tony Blair's government would support a U-S strike against Saddam Hussein, although there are dissenting voices within his own ruling Labor party.

The petition states that it is deplorable that the world's most powerful nations continue to regard war and the threat of war as an acceptable instrument of foreign policy.

Among those signing up is the Anglican bishop of Coventry Colin Bennets.

/// BENNETS ACT ///

There will be huge numbers of casualties and bear in mind that most casualties in modern war are civilian. Ninety percent of casualties are civilians and of those half are children. We hear talk about body bags being flown back to the West. In fact it's the civilians there who will suffer far more.

///END ACT///

Reverend Bennets adds that a lack of information in the public domain is a great cause of concern.

///2ND BENNETS ACT ///

The reasons of principle for a nation, a superpower nation, to set out to attack another one, to depose it's ruler.that needs very, very good evidence and we haven't actually been presented with that evidence.

///END ACT///

Two months ago the British leader said he would be releasing such an evidence dossier but he now says that the timing is not right.

Meanwhile, pressure is mounting on Mr. Blair to recall parliament to debate the issue. The official line from Mr. Blair's office is that such a recall is not necessary right now as no final decision has been made yet.

(SIGNED)

NEB/ TR/LDJ/KBK