(3) The risk of grave violations of international humanitarian law, including direct attacks on civilians, the use of 'human shields', indiscriminate attacks and attacks on civilian objects. The impact of any possible use of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, all of which are inherently indiscriminate, also needs to be assessed.

(4) Ways to ensure the immediate deployment of human rights monitors in line with resolution 57/232 passed by the General Assembly as recently as December 2002.

Amnesty International has welcomed and supported the initiatives taken by the Security Council in recent years stressing the importance of maximizing the protection of civilians in armed conflict situations and ensuring accountability for abuses, as reflected in resolutions 1265 (1999), 1296 (2000) and 1460 (2003).

"I call on the Council to apply the standards it has articulated to the situation in Iraq now." Ms Khan concluded.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

For more information, please contact: http://www.amnesty.org
or http://www.amnesty.nl

Please also sign the Amnesty International Petition:
"Human rights in Iraq - what about the people?" at;
http://web.amnesty.org/web/iraq-petition.nsf/action_english