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Malaysia speaks out against an attack on Iraq

Western nations have been accused of adopting racist policies in the campaign against terrorism as the 114-nation Non-Aligned Movement prepares for a conference in Malaysia that's expected to be dominated by the Iraq crisis.

Malaysia's Foreign Minister, Syed Hamid Albar, says rich nations seem to lecture developing countries on alleged human rights violations as acts of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance grow in their own backyard.

Malaysia's Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohammad will assume chairmanship of the 114-nation Non-Aligned Movement, when it convenes for a summit in Kuala Lumpur next week.

He has indicated that he'll try to steer the group into declaring strong opposition to the U-S threat to attack Iraq which he says is a primitive response to the task of disarming Saddam Hussein.

Iraq's Foreign Minister Naji Sabri is expected to plead for support from the group to stop any US attack on his country.

Apart from Iraq, the Non-Aligned Movement includes North Korea and Iran, the two other states in US President George W. Bush's "Axis of Evil".

Malaysia expects 56 heads of state to gather in Kuala Lumpur.

21/02/2003 08:26:10 | ABC Radio Australia News