B3-1037, 1049 and 1100/93

Resolution on the US attack on Baghdad

The European Parliament,

A.recalling its earlier resolutions on the situation in Iraq and the Iraqi authorities' failure to comply with UN Security Council resolutions,

B.whereas, in the night of 26 to 27 June 1993, 23 Tomahawk missiles were launched from two US warships in the Gulf and the Red Sea at the Iraqi intelligence service headquarters in Baghdad,

C.whereas, according to Baghdad, the US attack killed six civilians while Washington, for its part, admits that three missiles failed to hit their targets,

D.whereas the attack was prompted by an attempt to assassinate former US President George Bush while he was on a visit to Kuwait City last April in which, according to evidence in the possession of the CIA, the Iraqi secret services were implicated,

E.whereas the presumed culprits are now on trial in Kuwait,

F.concerned that no precipitate actions should be undertaken which strengthen the support for dictatorial regimes in the region, including that of Saddam Hussein,

1.Expresses its sympathy with the families of the victims of the US attack;

2.Reiterates, in the strongest possible terms, its condemnation of all forms of terrorism;

3.Considers that every State has the right to defend itself against terrorist attack but reaffirms that it cannot countenance massive acts of retaliation which cause loss of life among the civilian population;

4.Condemns therefore the US attack which cost several Iraqi civilians their lives;

5.Deplores that this action was taken by the United States without first consulting the UN Security Council;

6.Considers that Article 51 of the United Nations Charter on 'the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations' cannot be invoked in this case;

7.Urges the United States and all other Members of the United Nations to refrain from armed attacks of any kind whatsoever save in the event of a UN Security Council decision under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter;

8.Underlines that the prestige of the United Nations requires that there be no double standards;

9.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the United Nations and the governments of the United States and Iraq.