"Iraq's liberation would be the beginning, not the end, of our commitment to its people," vowed US President George W. Bush after a crisis summit in the Portuguese Azores islands.
"We will supply humanitarian relief, bring the economic sanctions to a swift close, and work for the long-term recovery of Iraq's economy," he added.
His words were echoed by British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who told a press conference after talks with Bush and his Spanish counterpart Jose Maria Aznar, that "should it come to conflict, we make a pledge to the people of Iraq... we will protect Iraq's territorial integrity." Both men were answering accusations from vocal anti-war opponents that Iraq's vast oil fields are one of the main reasons behind moves to topple Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, who has ruled with an iron fist since seizing power in 1979.
"We will make sure Iraq's natural resources are used for the benefits of their owners, the Iraqi people," said Bush, dubbing Saddam a "cruel, cruel oppressor," who had "a history of mass murder".
"Action to remove the threat from Iraq would also allow the Iraqi people to build a better future for their society." Economic sanctions imposed on Iraq in 1990 after its invasion of Kuwait have brought the Iraqi economy to its knees, causing widespread poverty in a nation where more than 40 percent of the population are under the age of 15.
"It is the people of Iraq who are the primary victims of Saddam " added Blair.
He highlighted with details of life in Iraq: "the thousands of children that die needlessly every year; the people locked up in his prisons, or executed simply for showing disagreement with the regime; a country that is potentially prosperous is reduced to poverty; sixty percent of the population reliant on food aid." "We will help Iraq rebuild -- and not rebuild because of the problems of conflict," added Blair.
"We will do everything we can to minimize the suffering of the Iraqi people, (and) rebuild Iraq because of the appalling legacy that the rule of Saddam has left the Iraqi people." He also vowed that Iraq's natural resources remained the property of the people of Iraq.
"That wealth should be used for the Iraqi people. It is theirs and will remain so, administered by the UN in the way we set out." Their assurances came as they called on the international community to decide whether to enforce UN Security Council resolutions which have warned Saddam of serious consequences if he fails to disarm his alleged programme of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons.
"We are committed to the goal of a unified Iraq with democratic institutions of which members of all ethnic and religious groups are treated with dignity and respect," added Bush.
The United States has been meeting with leaders of the fractious Iraqi opposition to discuss plans for a post-Saddam Iraq.
Bush added he would appeal to the United Nations to help the Iraqi people should war break out.
"Iraq has the potential to be a great nation. Iraq's people are skilled and educated. We'll push as quickly as possible for an Iraqi interim authority to draw upon the talents of Iraq's people to rebuild their nation." - Sapa-AFP
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