David Norris (Independent)

Perhaps the Leader would ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs to request from the United States and British Governments a statement on the humanitarian situation in Falluja. Some 210,000 refugees outside Falluja are not provided for. The International Red Cross has said that the treatment there is in contempt of human rights yet not a squeak is emerging because the news media have been completely sewn up. Simultaneously, if we are looking to the United Nations to help, our Government should issue a strong statement of support for that body. There are people committed to its destruction in the current American Government. In today's newspapers there are reports that a leading US Republican Senator, covertly assisted by President Bush, is attempting to seek the removal or resignation of the Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan. That is disgraceful and is a related element of American foreign policy.