Security Council wants end to 'war of cities.' (Iran-Iraq conflict) (includes related articles)

Security Council wants end to `war of cities'

Iran-Iraq conflict: 8 years old

Security Council members have strongly deplored the escalation of hostilities between Iran and Iraq, particularly attacks againts civilian targets and cities that had taken a heavy toll in human lives and had caused vast material destruction, in spite of the belligerent parties' declared readiness to cease such attacks.

Their views were set out in a statement read by Council President Dragoslav Pejic of Yugoslavia at a Council meeting held on 16 March after consultations

Expressing grave concern that the tragic conflict had entered its eighth year, Council members insisted that the two countries immediately cease all such attacks and other acts that led to the conflict's escalation thereby creating further obstacles to implementing Council resolution 598 (1987) and undermining Council efforts to put an early end to the conflict in accordance with that resolution.

(Resolution 598, adopted unanimously by the Council, calls for an immediate cease-fire, an end to all military actions in the region, withdrawal of forces to internationally recognized boundaries, dispatch of a team of United Nations observers to supervise those actions, and consideration of the question of entrusting an impartial body to inquire into responsibility for the conflict.)

Council members affirmed their strong commitment to the resolution's implementation "as an integrated whole"--the only basis for a comprehensive, just, honourable and lasting settlement.

They encouraged Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar to continue his efforts to secure the resolution's implementation.

On 18 March, the Secretary-General invited the Iranian and Iraqi Presidents to send special emissaries to New York for intensive consultations. He also appealed to both parties to refrain from all acts that could lead to an escalation of the conflict and particularly, to end immediately all military attacks againts civilian targets.

On 22 March, he stated that he was appalled at the sharp escalation in the conflict, including another Iranian incursion into Iraq, the continuing "war of the cities", and allegations of Iraq's use of chemical weapons.

On 28 March, Iraq asked the Secretary-General to send a mission to investigate the situation of Iraqi prisoners of war in...