Iraq also complained about previous U.S. statements about the no-fly zones. U.S. officials said Saturday that the administration intended to report to the Security Council an incident in the southern air exclusion zone but was still debating whether to declare it a "material breach" of the resolution.
The Foreign Ministry said U.N. chief Kofi Annan and his predecessor Boutros Boutros Ghali have said "the United States and Britain imposed this measure unilaterally without it being sanctioned by Security Council resolutions."
The enforcement of the exclusion zones was also condemned by several international organizations, the statement said. "What credibility can the Security Council and U.N. retain if the U.S. administration of evil uses council resolutions to confer legitimacy on blatant acts of aggression against peoples while considering resistance to aggression a material breach of these resolutions?" it asked.
The statement, citing a letter from Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to parliament released Saturday, said Baghdad would continue to defend its "inalienable rights under the U.N. Charter and international law" while honoring its own obligations as laid down by the charter and international law.
The "no-fly" zones were imposed by the Western powers after the Gulf War to stop Iraqi attacks on Shia Muslims and minority Kurds but are not explicitly covered by any U.N. resolution.
Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA): http://www.irna.com
Redistributed via Press International News Agency (PINA).
The Foreign Ministry said U.N. chief Kofi Annan and his predecessor Boutros Boutros Ghali have said "the United States and Britain imposed this measure unilaterally without it being sanctioned by Security Council resolutions."
The enforcement of the exclusion zones was also condemned by several international organizations, the statement said. "What credibility can the Security Council and U.N. retain if the U.S. administration of evil uses council resolutions to confer legitimacy on blatant acts of aggression against peoples while considering resistance to aggression a material breach of these resolutions?" it asked.
The statement, citing a letter from Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to parliament released Saturday, said Baghdad would continue to defend its "inalienable rights under the U.N. Charter and international law" while honoring its own obligations as laid down by the charter and international law.
The "no-fly" zones were imposed by the Western powers after the Gulf War to stop Iraqi attacks on Shia Muslims and minority Kurds but are not explicitly covered by any U.N. resolution.
Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA): http://www.irna.com
Redistributed via Press International News Agency (PINA).