February 5, 2007, RFE -- A coalition of British labor, charity, and political think tank organizations is calling on Prime Minister Tony Blair to do all that he can to prevent a U.S.-led military strike on Iran.
The group says in a report released today that such a strike could have "highly dangerous" consequences, including further destabilizing neighboring Iraq, undermining efforts for Israeli-Palestinian peace, strengthening Iranian hardliners, and driving up world fuel prices.
The report urges Blair to pressure the United States to engage in talks with Tehran.
Groups backing the report include British trade unions, the charity group Oxfam, the Muslim Council of Britain, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, and the left-leaning Foreign Policy Center think tank.
The United States, which has accused Iran of secretly trying to make nuclear weapons, has declined to rule out possible military action if Iran does not halt its nuclear activities. The United States also accuses Iran of supporting insurgents in Iraq.
Iran denies any effort to develop nuclear bombs.
(AP, AFP, BBC)
Copyright (c) 2007 RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org
... Payvand News - 2/5/07 ... --
