World Tribunal On Iraq: A Thorough Investigation Must Be Conducted On Bush, Blair And Government Officials Of Coalition Countries

ISTANBUL - ''World Tribunal on Iraq'' has made its decision today. According to the decision, a thorough investigation must be conducted on U.S. President Bush, British Premier Tony Blair and other officials from coalition countries.
The WTI, comprised of members from various NGOs, academicians and legal experts, made the ''Jury of Conscience'' decision public today at the Armada Hotel in Istanbul. The decision was read by Chairman of the Jury, Indian writer Arundhati Roy.
The decision stated that, prior to February 2003 and prior to the declaration of war on Iraq, millions of people who are against the war protested but did not get any response.
The decision also stated that in the past two years Iraq has been devastated by the war. ''The attack on Iraq is actually against justice, freedom, security and our future. As people with conscience, we have established the 'World Tribunal on Iraq' to resist violence and demand a more peaceful and just future,'' noted the statement.
''The legitimacy of 'World Tribunal on Iraq' is based on the common conscience of humanity. We, the Jury of Conscience, have gathered together from 10 different countries and met in Istanbul. We have listened to 54 persons from various countries, including Iraq, the U.S. and the United Kingdom,'' remarked the statement.
The statement reads: ''The evidences that the U.S. and Britain submitted to world opinion prior to March 2003 have been proven to be wrong. Allegations that Iraq possess weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and Saddam Hussein's regime is linked to the terrorist Al-Qaida, have been used to justify a 'pre-emptive attack' on Iraq.
Bush and Blair have disregarded global protests of millions and has pursued one of the history's most unfair, unethical, and cowardly wars.''
The decision asserted that the war in Iraq caused great damage to the infrastructure, health and education systems, environment, and archeology of Iraq, and went on: ''Ethnic and religious divisions have been intentionally encouraged to de-stabilize Iraq . The coalition forces must withdraw from Iraq as soon as possible. Coalition governments must pay compensation to Iraqis for the humanitarian, economic, ecological and cultural devastation they have caused. All laws adopted during the occupation must be declared null and non existent.''
The decision suggests that all that lied prior to and during the war should face prosecution.
''U.S. and British companies doing business in Iraq must be protested and a campaign to boycott their goods must begin. Our decision on the war should be considered by international legal bodies as a formal complaint. A comprehensive investigation must be conducted on Bush, Blair and other leaders of countries who supported and continue to support the war in Iraq,'' said Ayse Erzan, a jury member.