BAGDAD, Iraq, July 28 (UPI) -- Some 250 Iraqi Parliament members demonstrated Sunday in the Iraqi capital, launching a popular campaign dubbed "Down with America and Zionism."
The demonstrators carried Iraqi flags and banners calling on people to prepare for any emergency, including to fight any American invaders who may wage their aggression. Other banners proclaimed support for the leadership of President Saddam Hussein.
National Assembly Speaker Saadoun Hammadi, who led the march in front of the Parliament building, accused the United States of "exercising the biggest military mobilization and a misleading information campaign against Iraq."
Baghdad's streets, sidewalks and main squares were painted with anti-America and anti-Israel slogans. Organizers said the campaign was expected to extend to all Iraqi cities, condemning the United States and Israel in massive demonstrations in the streets.
Local observers told United Press International the tenor of the demonstrations and the fact they were led by members of the Iraqi National Assembly suggested Iraq was taking the U.S. threats seriously.
The Iraqi parliament recently held an emergency session, during which it condemned the United States and announced support to Hussein and for any measures the government takes to face what might come.
Parliament member Salem Kubeisi, head of the Arab and International Affairs Committee, said an Iraqi "dialogue with the U.N. (United Nations) was ongoing about the return of international arms inspectors," but he expected an American military attack against his country soon.
He told journalists "Iraqis, who are trained to use all types of weapons, are capable of repelling any attack America might launch against their country." He noted "they are now in the process of preparing to face all possibilities."
Kubeisi added, however, the Iraqi parliament was open for a dialogue with the U.S. Congress, saying a "number of Congress members who reject their government's plans to attack Iraq have delivered positive signals" toward a dialogue.
Arab parliaments also have expressed their support for Iraq in the event of a U.S. attack on the country, he said.
An editorial published Sunday in an official Saudi newspaper warned the United States against launching military operations against Iraq, citing pragmatic as well as political reasons.
"Treading toward an invasion of Iraq ... will create a deadlock that could blow up the entire region," cautioned the daily Al Riyadh.
It said "secret and public objectives are mixed on the invasion of Iraq, and it appears as though there is consensus in changing the regime (in Iraq), but the alternative is unknown."
It then questioned whether the "unknown alternative has the ability to manage an administration that is economically bankrupt, and the social dysfunction, and if the Iraqi people have anything to gain amid the dark fog."
Under the headline "Iraq -- Conflict in aims and expectations," the editorial also noted the "hidden intentions of America and the neighboring countries are different and are far from agreement on a clear objective."
It went on to say that "removing Saddam Hussein from power without material and human losses is imaginary. America's experience of intervention in Somalia and Lebanon and other countries was a failure, and could repeat the experience if its theories are continued to be based on unnatural thinking."
The paper said popular Arab sentiments could impose "sharp pressure" on their governments, "especially when there are anti-Western sentiments due to the catastrophe facing the Palestinian people. ... Adding Iraq on the list of being attacked under justifications that cannot be comprehended will be considered an attack against the entire Arab nation."
