Russia leads criticism of Iraq raids

Iraq says more than 20 civilians were hurt in the raids     WEB EXCLUSIVE Jane Arraf: Attack seen as affront to Muslims Christiane Amanpour: The British connection

MOSCOW, Russia -- Raids by U.S. and British warplanes on targets in Iraq have been criticised by the other three permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.

A senior Kremlin official said on Saturday that Russia would denounce any military action by Washington not backed by the U.N. Security Council, while China and France also condemned the raids.

The comment by Sergei Prikhodko, deputy head of the Kremlin administration, followed expressions of concern by Russia's Foreign Ministry over Friday's raids outside a "no-fly" zone imposed by Britain and the U.S.

Prikhodko, quoted by Interfax news agency, said Russia always "decisively criticises any U.S. act of force regardless of whom it is directed against, if the actions are conducted outside the context of U.N. Security Council decisions."

France, which no longer patrols the no-fly zones, has previously criticised air raids, calling them "pointless and deadly."

On Friday, the French Foreign Ministry said Friday's mission "gave rise to questions" and added: "We are waiting for explanations from the American administration."

RESOURCE Graphic: Strike on Iraq    IN-DEPTH The Unfinished War: A Decade Since Desert Storm   • Video calendar   • Timeline   • Update: Gulf War Players   • Update: Coalition crumbling?   • Weapons disputes leave fallout of fear   • Do economic sanctions work?   • Gulf War illness remains unresolved   • An elusive enemy     MESSAGE BOARD Iraq airstrike

A spokeswoman at China's United Nations mission said: "We are opposed to any use of arms without authority of the Security Council at any circumstances."

Russian President Vladimir Putin was told of the raids by his officials during a tour of Siberia, and it was unclear if he had been given advance warning of the attacks.

Russia has called for the lifting of U.N. sanctions against Iraq while trying to persuade Baghdad to resume dialogue with the U.N. on arms inspections.

Russia has sent several planes carrying humanitarian supplies to Iraq, defying the sanctions.

The no-fly zones, initially set up to defend Kurds in northern Iraq and a Shi'ite minority in the south, were not explicitly authorised by the U.N. Security Council.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko told Interfax on Friday that Moscow "greets with concern" news of the raids.

"Russia firmly proceeds from the necessity of fulfilling U.N. Security Council resolutions in relation to Iraq," he said.

"Any actions which contradict international law can only complicate the resolution of the Iraqi problem."

Itar-Tass news agency quoted Leonid Ivashov, head of the Russian military's foreign relations department as saying that the strikes "make it clear for Russia that the United States has assumed the role of an international gendarme."

Casualties concern

Turkey, which has recently forged closer ties with neighbouring Iraq, also said on Saturday it hoped the attacks on Baghdad would not be repeated, the state-run Anatolian news agency said.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said: "Last night's incident is a serious one. I regret the civilian losses there."

Turkey, a member of NATO, is seeking to improve economic ties with Iraq and last month upgraded its diplomatic ties with Baghdad to ambassador level, a move that drew criticism from Washington.

London-based human rights organisation Amnesty International said it was concerned at reports of civilian casualties.

"Amnesty International is demanding immediate assurances from the UK and U.S. governments that they will fully respect international law and the human rights of the Iraqi people," said a spokesman.

The Associated Press & Reuters contributed to this report.

A decade after Gulf War, Iraq endures
February 17, 2001
Bush: Iraq strikes part of 'strategy'
February 16, 2001
The Gulf War: Moscow's role
February 16, 2001
Tenth anniversary of the Gulf War: A look back
February 16, 2001
Iraqi President Saddam Hussein speaks on anniversary of Persian Gulf War
February 16, 2001
Missing U.S. pilot dead, Iraq insists
February 14, 2001
Iraq displays seemingly healthy Saddam Hussein
February 6, 2001

United Nations
NATO
Office of the Iraq Programme
The Iraqi Presidency
Iraqi National Congress

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.