President George W. Bush announced on Tuesday, July 31, he was extending US sanctions his father imposed on Baghdad 11 years ago in response to Iraqi President Saddam Hussain's invasion of Kuwait.
"The Government of Iraq continues to engage in activities inimical to stability in the Middle East and hostile to United States interests in the region," Bush said in a letter to the US Congress announcing the decision.
"Iraqi actions pose a continuing, unusual, and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. For these reasons, I have determined that it is necessary to maintain in force the broad authorities necessary to apply economic pressure on the Government of Iraq," he said.
The US measures, imposed by former president George Bush in August 1990, include trade sanctions and a freeze of Iraqi assets in the United States. They were due to lapse the first week of August. ― (AFP, Washington)
© Agence France Presse 2001
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
