Iraq decided Tuesday to break trading links with Canada and Poland because of their backing for US and British air strikes around Baghdad, the official news agency INA announced.
The measure was adopted because "these two states supported ... the aggression," said Commerce Minister Mohammad Mahdi Al-Saleh, quoted by INA, referring to Friday's strikes in which Baghdad said three people were killed and 30 wounded.
He said the government decided "to suspend imports of products of Canadian and Polish origin, including Canadian wheat purchased directly or through intermediaries," without giving an indication of the volumes affected.
In contrast to widespread international condemnation of the raids, the Canadian foreign ministry said it "completely supports" the operation, while Poland said it was "understandable".
The action targeted radar and military command centers to counter Iraqi air defense systems that were posing an increased threat to US and British aircraft policing the skies of southern Iraq, Washington said.
Iraq last year accused Poland, whose embassy in Baghdad also represents US interests, of having tried to smuggle in electronic surveillance equipment.
In April 2000, sanctions-hit Iraq turned down offers of humanitarian aid from Canada because of its support for the US strong line against lifting the decade-old UN embargo. Canada's embassy in Baghdad has been closed since the 1991 Gulf War but Iraq has a mission in Montreal.
Several countries have reopened missions in Baghdad since last year eager to snap up contracts under the UN oil-for-food program, which allows Iraq to export crude in return for imports of humanitarian supplies.
Iraq has been under sanctions since its August 1990 invasion of Kuwait that sparked the Gulf conflict. — (AFP, Baghdad)
© Agence France Presse 2001
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
