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Mandela Repeats Warning to U.S.
Friday, September 13, 2002
(9:07 AM SA)
Reuters

Mandela earlier told Newsweek that, while it was not his personal view, others believed there was an element of racism behind Washington's unilateral policies.



"Many people say quietly, but they don't have the courage to stand up and say publicly, that when there were white (UN) secretaries-general you didn't find this question of the United States and Britain going out of the United Nations. But now that you've had black secretaries-general like ... Kofi Annan, they do not respect the United Nations. They have contempt for it."



CAPE TOWN, South Africa -- Reuters
Former president Nelson Mandela has urged the United States again to act only through the United Nations in its campaign against Iraq after a report in which he branded the US a threat to world peace.

"Everybody who wants peace and stability in the world will respect the world body," he told reporters in Cape Town. "All its members (should) respect the United Nations' charter. They don't do anything which might be disturb peace and stability."

US President George W Bush issued a ringing challenge to the world body about Iraq on Thursday, saying if it did not force President Saddam Hussein to disarm and stop backing terrorism then "action will be unavoidable."

President Thabo Mbeki said in New York on Thursday that the United Nations was the correct body to deal with Iraq.

"I was pleased that President Bush, when he spoke said that the US government would come to the security council on this matter and approach it in the context of decisions that have been taken by the security council," Mbeki said at an event organised by the council on foreign relations.

In an interview with Newsweek magazine on Monday, Mandela criticised the US for acting unilaterally and undermining the UN as a forum for settling international disputes. He said hardline US policies aimed to please American oil and arms companies.

He said in the interview, which appeared on Newsweek's website: "If you look at those matters, you will come to the conclusion that the attitude of the United States of America is a threat to world peace."

* Sanctions and weapons inspectors imposed
* 'Must be condemned in the strongest terms'
(More: News24.com News Source)
2002 © Reuters, Ltd.

You didn't actually think he would be swayed by the Bush address to the UN General Assembly and address any of Hussein's, er -- shortcomings -- did you?

Dan