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In an exclusive interview with Abu Dhabi TV, the Iraqi foreign minister, Naji Sabri, said that Iraq would treat the US prisoners in accordance with the Geneva Convention and on the basis of international law. Sabri also said that Iraq would continue its strikes against US bases in Kuwait, adding that this was not directed at Kuwait or the Kuwaiti people.
The interview was conducted by our correspondent in Cairo Darkashanni:
Sabri
- recording in progress This position is in violation of the Arab League Charter and in violation of all Arab resolutions and the Security Council resolutions. All these stressed that Iraq's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity had to be respected.
Darkashanni
But this means that you are prepared or that you can repeat this operation, and strike US bases in Kuwait if you can do it?
Sabri
We strike these bases where the aggression is being launched from now. These military bases are sending troops to invade our country. We strike these troop concentrations because they are the concentrations of an aggression against Iraq. This has nothing to do with Kuwait. This has to do with the US aggressors and invaders whom we must strike and strike again. We forbid them from entering Iraq and we will defeat them, with God's will and help.
Darkashanni
But do you not fear that this might lose you some of the support you have won in the Arab street?
Sabri
No, on the contrary. The entire Arab people want to see the aggressors struck.
Darkashanni
What about the gamble you took before the start of the war, namely that the international community and numerous world powers would endeavour to stop the war or prevent its outbreak? Now that the war has broken out, what are you gambling on?
Sabri
We do not gamble on anything that comes to us from abroad. We rely on God Almighty and on our faith in our people's unlimited capabilities and on the heroic steadfastness of our people. We also rely on the Arab people's support for us and their solidarity with us. This is what we rely on. We do not gamble on anyone.
The international community must stand against this aggression because this aggression is a blatant challenge of the international community and a blatant challenge of the UN Charter, international law and the entire system of relations among civilized nations which humankind has set up.
Darkashanni
There is a move by the Arab League, a meeting of which you will be attending tomorrow, to resort to the UN Security Council; and if this does not work, will you as Arab League request a meeting of the General Assembly? What does this show?
Sabri
The UN General Assembly represents the international community and when the General Assembly adopts a resolution it is the resolution of the international community to condemn the aggression and stop it. It reinforces the front which is demanding an end to the aggression and it gives it a legal dimension which puts it within the framework of international law.
Darkashanni
Mr Taha Yasin Ramadan spoke a day ago and said we do not talk about Arab leaderships and we are not interested in Arab leaderships but what matters to us is the Arab street. What has the Arab street done so far and is it enough in your opinion or did you need something bigger, a greater change which takes place and puts pressure on the decision-making process?
Sabri
Thousands of volunteers cross into Iraq every day to fight alongside the Iraqi people against the aggression. This is a tangible expression of the stance of the Arab street which stands by the Iraqi people. The isolation suffered by the US-British colonialist project is increasing day by day; an isolation throughout the world. When all the masses of the Arab nation stand against this project, they are increasing this isolation and they are offering something to the peoples of the world to encourage them to step up their fight against this US-British colonialist project. Naturally, this is an additional factor on top of the main factor, namely that we defeat this project inside Iraq ; and praise be to God and His power we are now defeating this military colonialist project of the tripartite aggression against Iraq.
Darkashanni
A number of US soldiers have been taken prisoner, what do you intend to do about them, especially as there is woman among them who is, if I may say so, from the black ethnic group?
Sabri
We treat prisoners of war in accordance with our Arab values and our magnanimous Islamic shar'iah and in accordance with our commitment to the Geneva Convention and the human as heard international law. We are the state of law and we are the state which made the law in the world. Therefore we are committed to human international law when dealing with these prisoners.
Darkashanni
Some are saying that you have adopted a strategy based essentially on luring the Americans into the towns and villages so that you can start an urban warfare which you are expected to win given the geography as heard . What have you planned in this respect since the Americans could decide to besiege the towns and starve the people indefinitely?
Sabri
These are pipe dreams. They cannot starve the people. Another one of these pipe dreams is that the people of Iraq will welcome them when they come to the people of Iraq as invaders. You have seen how they were treated by the people of Iraq.
I will not talk to you about our plans and I am not required to talk to you about our plans. However, I will tell this: This aggression will be buried and America will withdraw and it will be forced and compelled to withdraw from the land of Iraq with its tail between its legs after suffering defeat, ignominy and disgrace.
Copyright Abu Dhabi TV and BBC. For fair use only/ pour usage �quitable seulement .