I have just heard your interview on the CBC NEWSWORLD, and was puzzled with your response to the question about US &British bombing of Baghdad. You said Iraq must "obey the UN's rule" and went on to say that these measures are to protect Iraqi civilians.

We beg to ask you to let us know what is the Security Council or UN General Assembly resolution that authorised the creation of the "No-fly zones" or authorised this bombing. It is interesting to note that many nations in the world, including three permanent members of the Security Council, Russia, China and France, are not aware of this resolution or agreement with Iraq, that you and Mr. Chretien and Messrs Bush and Blair keep referring to.

You state that these measures were to protect Iraqi civilians. Are you aware that there have been hundreds of Iraqi civilians killed by US and British bombing after the end of the Gulf War? Furthermore, If the US and Britain, as well as Canada, were so concerned about the safety and wellbeing of Iraqi civilians, would it not be more appropriate for these powers, including our own government, to bring an end the economic sanctions that have brought about the killing of about one and a half million Iraqi civilians, through starvation and disease? Five to six thousand Iraqi children, under five, die every month as a result of these sanctions. Is that the best you would propose for the protection of these civilians? You are no doubt aware that Denis Halliday, Assistant UN Secretary General and UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Iraq called these sanctions genocidal and resigned his post in disgust, as did Mr, Hans von-Sponeck, who followed him in this post. And why does not our government heed the unanimous recommendation of our own Parliementary Committe to bring an end to these sanctions?

If the US and Britain were so concerned about the protection of Iraqi civilians, why would they not immediately take action to remove the remains of the thousands of tons of depleted uranium that they poured on Iraq and which continue to bring about the phenomenal increase in the incidence of leukemia and cancer in children and congenital deformities?