photo feature  A Rajasthani farmer sits in his drought affected farm in the village of Mavila Ro Gahro, in Rajasthan, India, August 2, 2002. Union Agriculture Minister Ajit Singh said on Thursday that a drought had engulfed the entire country except the northeastern state of Assam and was the worst in at least 15 years. (Reuters/Pawel Kopczynski)

top news & features

Top U.S. Republican: 'Unprovoked' Iraq War Would Be Illegal

The House majority leader, Texas Republican Dick Armey, warned today that an unprovoked attack against Iraq would violate international law and undermine world support for President Bush's goal of ousting Saddam Hussein. The remarks by Mr. Armey are the most prominent sign of Congressional unease that the administration is moving rapidly toward a war against Iraq and were especially striking coming from a leading conservative and a staunch Bush ally. "I don't believe that America will justifiably make an unprovoked attack on another nation," he said. "It would not be consistent with what we have been as a nation or what we should be as a nation." The White House had little reaction to Mr. Armey's comments.     8/9/2002

Iraq Is Defiant as G.O.P. Leader Opposes Attack - New York Times
Armey warns against unprovoked attack against Iraq - USA Today
Armey says Iraq attack would need provocation - Des Moines Register
Top U.S. Republican: 'Unprovoked' Iraq War Would Be Illegal - Chicago Tribune

other top news
U.S. Govt Intervention in ExxonMobil Case Angers Rights Groups
   OneWorld US 8/9
Rights Groups Protest Israeli Court Decision on Demolitions
   OneWorld US 8/9
Group Faults Libya's Nomination to Head U.N. Commission
   Inter Press Service 8/9
Iraq war could engulf region, Britain warns US
   Independent / UK 8/9
European Union unveils ban on African 'blood diamonds'
   Independent / UK 8/9
Saving the Planet Has Become a PR Stunt for the West
   Times of London 8/9
Nagasaki mayor accuses U.S. of reneging on nuclear accords
   Reuters 8/9
Campaigners build Israel 'war crimes' case
   BBC 8/9
Israeli 'restraint' still means terror for the Palestinians
   Guardian / UK 8/9

other news / newswire
UN unveils plan for cutting risks posed by natural disasters
   UN News Service
Ecuador: A forest path out of poverty
   Christian Science Monitor
Let's have a big hand for Gul Agha - the UN's warlord of the year
   The Independent/UK
Latin America, Caribbean to Seek Relief at Earth Summit
   Environment News Service
Global Warming is Changing Tropical Forests
   Environment News Service
African nations should reconsider choice of Libya to chair Human Rights Commission session, Human Rights Watch says
   Associated Press
African hunger and GM maize
   SciDev.net
Aborigines denied rights to mineral wealth of tribal land
   The Independent/UK
Seizing Native Americans' Land Was Rights Violation, Rules International Commission
   OneWorld US
Human Rights Watch to African nations: reconsider Libya
   Associated Press
Yahoo! Risks Abusing Rights in China
   Human Rights Watch
Nigeria: Women Seize Shell, Chevron Delta Facilities
   allAfrica
Libya Should Not Chair U.N. Human Rights Commission
   Human Rights Watch
10 East African countries sign declaration on arms
   allAfrica
U.N. Looks at Disaster Prevention
   Associated Press
Women protest outside Nigerian offices of ChevronTexaco and Shell
   Associated Press
U.N. Body Urges U.S. to Stay Execution of Mexican
   Reuters
I.M.F. Loan to Brazil Also Shields U.S. Interests
   New York Times
Cambodians deported after growing up in America
   New York Times
"Christian fundamentalism is no less dangerous to international peace and security than extremists in other religions"
   Times of London
U.S. Congress fails to adopt prescription coverage for the elderly
   World Socialist Web Site
US behind peace deals in Sudan and Congo
   World Socialist Web Site
Britain warns US against attacking Iraq as pressure mounts on Blair
   Agence France Presse
Return to Afghanistan: Ladies and gentlemen, let's have a big hand for Gul Agha - the UN's warlord of the year
   Independent / UK
Israeli attacks on militants leave families homeless
   Independent / UK
Annan Wants Support for Peace Deal
   Associated Press
Myanmar releases prisoners but Suu Kyi wants more
   Reuters
'Ultimate Jihad' Acquittal a Blow to UK Terror Law
   Reuters
'Race against time' for Uganda refugees
   BBC
Saudis lash US 'Christian extremists'
   BBC
WorldCom reveals further £2.1bn error
   Guardian / UK
Women test law on sex history adverts
   Guardian / UK
Aborigine rights damaged by mining verdict
   Guardian / UK