IRELAND: A division emerged yesterday between Fine Gael and the Labour Party over whether to support tomorrow's anti-war rally in Dublin.
The Labour leader, Mr Pat Rabbitte, has called for the "fullest possible turnout" but Fine Gael's spokesman on foreign affairs, Mr Gay Mitchell, said that if he had the choice, he would not attend.
"I would not be marching," said Mr Mitchell. "People who are against the war are entitled to march. But what I find hard to take is some of the extremists behind the rally."
He said these included Sinn Féin and the Peace and Neutrality Alliance, whose position on neutrality was "nonsense". However, Mr Rabbitte said, he fully supported the march, and accused the Government of being "craven and cowardly" in relation to the Iraqi crisis.
"The Government has totally failed to articulate the views of the Irish people on the threat of war. Officially they sit on the fence, but at the same time they privately send out a message that when the crunch comes they will do whatever the United States requests," he said.
Sinn Féin hopes that "tens of thousands of people" will join the march, said the party's president, Mr Gerry Adams. "People should use their voice for peace and justice. Sinn Féin is to the fore in this campaign because we don't believe that the war is justified. If war is to be declared, it should be a war against poverty and a war for equality," he declared.
Speaking in Dublin, Mr Adams said: "Our experience of the Irish peace process has shown us in a very real way that dialogue and negotiation is the best way to achieve the peaceful resolution of conflicts.
"It is regrettable that the Government is not promoting this in the UN. The last war showed that the innocent would suffer. The inspectors should be allowed to continue their work."
Meanwhile, the party will next week move a Private Members' Bill in the Dáil that would give Irish neutrality a place in the Constitution, according to Cavan/Monaghan TD, Mr Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin.
According to the Peace and Neutrality Alliance, one of the main groups behind the march, between 15,000 and 20,000 are expected at the march, which starts from Parnell Square in Dublin.
Ms Marian Harkin, an Independent TD, said opposition to the likely war did not equal anti-Americanism. She said the Irish were friends of the Americans. "But you don't always agree with your friends. Nothing is simple or easy about this."