February 2001 World Headlines

Thursday, February 22, 2001 - Web posted at 8:29:55 AM GMT

Saddam most dangerous man in the world - Blair

LONDON - British Prime Minister Tony Blair yesterday said Iraq leader Saddam Hussein was probably the most dangerous man in the world and the policy of containing his regime must continue."

I can never understand how people can look at the history of Saddam and come to any other conclusion than that he's a dangerous man, probably the most dangerous leader anywhere in the world at the present time," he said."

"The policy of containment must stay in place," the Prime Minister told journalists: "In the long term we need to look at a better sanctions and inspections regime, but at the present time we are with the policy of containment because it is the right thing to do."

I think that what we are doing on Iraq is absolutely essential," Blair stressed to a gathering of US and Canadian correspondents as he prepared to fly to Ottawa and Washington.

Britain and the US have faced a barrage of international criticism over their bombing raid on Iraq last week.

The raid close to Baghdad was intended to knock out Iraq's air defence system being used to target US and British planes as they patrolled no-fly zones in northern and southern Iraq.

But Turkey, Russia and France said the attack overstepped the mandate to protect the no-fly zones.

The three countries also criticised the sanctions regime and called for it to be softened.

Asked about condemnation from other nations, Blair replied: "I think we are less alone than it seems on this.

I think people sometimes understand that we will be the ones that act."

"He said other nations were more supportive "if you talk to some of our allies privately."

""Just look at the guy's track record," he said of Saddam Hussein: "He has killed thousands of his own people through chemical weapons.

He has launched a war against Iran which cost one million people their lives. - Nampa-Sapa-AFP

•  Many Indians flee Hindu-Christian clashes
•  Mugabe to form new govt
•  Nebraska council votes to evict aging horse
•  Angolan vote campaign looks increasingly one-sided
•  Barack Obama makes history as Democratic nominee
•  100 militants killed in Afghanistan
•   Pakistani politicians jockey as violence hits
•  Madrid plane crash probe shows tail hit ground first
•  Clinton tells Democrats to unite behind Obama
•  Woman goes down baggage chute at Swedish airport
•  Thai police tighten noose around protesters
•  Sudan's Darfur airplane hijackers surrender in Libya
•  Deer and cattle have true animal magnetism - study
•  Monkeys reward friends, relatives
•  Ghana's elephants show UN deforestation poser
•  Africa's 'golden chance'
•  President Bashir on rare visit to south Sudan