Fed: Govt following the only path to Iraq disarming: Hockey
SYDNEY, Feb 17 AAP - The federal government was following the only path to ensure Iraqdisarmed, Small Business Minister Joe Hockey said today.
Half-a-million Australians turned out around the country for weekend anti-war rallies,with massive a protest in Sydney and tens of thousands attending demonstrations in Adelaide,Brisbane, Perth and Darwin.
But Prime Minister John Howard said the massive turnout did not mean the governmentwas out of step with the public mood by taking a decision to deploy troops and aircraftto the Persian Gulf.
Small Business Minister Joe Hockey agreed the call by so many could not be ignored,but said the government was taking the only path to ensure Iraq disarmed.
"We don't ignore it, but we are resolved to follow a path that means that Saddam Husseinmust disarm, and this is the only path that we can take," he told Seven's Sunrise program.
"Absolutely no-one wants war; we'll do everything we possibly can to avert war, butthe fundamental point is that when peace was set in the Middle East in 1991 Saddam Husseinagreed to have no weapons of mass destruction.
"It has now been ascertained by the United Nations that he does have weapons ... hehas a range of chemicals and he is not disarming.
"If the United Nations is not going to ensure that he disarms, then the rest of theworld has to stand up to him."
The government had not committed to war, he said.
AAP kp/was
KEYWORD: IRAQ HOCKEY
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