WE are totally opposed to any bombing of Iraq. Clinton and Blair are not standing up for democracy and human rights. The US and Britain backed Saddam Hussein for many years and they support many of the most undemocratic and repressive regimes throughout the world.

They are happy to back and supply arms to any dictator as long as it suits their economic and political interests. If Britain and the US launch a war on Iraq it will be for oil and US power.

The US wants to assert its dominance as the world's number one power and protect its economic interests in the oil-rich Middle East. Clinton wants to send a message to every world leader that anyone who interferes with US economic and political interests will pay the price.

But it is ordinary Iraqi civilians who will suffer, not the dictator Saddam Hussain.

To protect his interests Clinton, backed by Blair, is prepared to bomb Baghdad and slaughter thousands of innocent people.

The following signatories are all members of the Blackburn Branch of the college lecturers union, NATFHE, or of the Blackburn College Branch of UNISON, and are signing in their personal capacities.

J S Kent, M Robinson, H Christie, D F Clink, Lez Scott, J Norcross, E Walpole, Bruce Ogilvie, Phil Webster, G Fielding, S Bray, Dave Harling, G Porter, A Smith, Chris Jenkins, Enid Green, V M Ormerod, Jane Hassall, A Ellison, Gordon Huxley, Gill Entwistle, L M O'Laughlin, L Birchall, E Fox, Margaret Walker, Matt Davies, Helen Shipman, D WIlson, A Mamood.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.