Left wing allies back anti-war vote

BALEARIC MP's voted in favour of a five-point motion condemning military intervention in Iraq yesterday, only centre-right opposition Partido Popular MP's voted against the motion. The anti-war, pro-United Nations motion was unanimously supported by all the left-wing coalition government parties, the PSOE socialists, the PSM Majorca nationalists, the United Left, the Greens and the Majorcan Union party with the Balearics' decision being used as a mandate to repeat its demands that central government does not permit Balearic facilities, ports and airports to be used by allied forces in the event of a military strike. President Antich said that the vote mirrored the general stance of the public, clearly demonstrated, he claimed, in the anti-war march last month. The PP had drawn up an alternative motion, condemning Saddam Hussein's dictatorial regime and continual violation of human rights in Iraq, but it was not put before the house. The PP also wanted Balearic MP's to back calls for Saddam to “immediately” start complying with all the United Nations Security Council resolution and disarm while the international community exhausts all avenues to try and find a peaceful solution. Socialist party spokesperson, Andreu Crespí, slammed George Bush, Tony Blair, José María Aznar and Silvio Berlusconi as the “four riders of the Apocalypse,” but PP MP Joan Huguet retorted “there's only one rider, Saddam Hussein.” He also accused the socialists of ignoring the “economic and geopolitical” interests of the French, Russians and Chinese while harping on about US interests in the region. Crespi replied “I believe you, but we don't believe Aznar, we don't understand how he can back military intervention against the wishes of millions of Spaniards and people across the world.” But Huguet warned parliament that the international community “can not continue to live under the permanent threat of attack” from Hussein.