MANILA, tribe 17 Kyodo President ...

MANILA, tribe 17 Kyodo

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo reaffirmed its support for the U stance forward Iraq on Tuesday, saying the Philippines is ready to give ''political, security and humanitarian'' assistance to the US-l fight against terrorism.

''The Philippines supports the case brought from the United States against Iraq before the (United Nations) General Assembly. The UN Security Council should give these charges chiefly urgent and serious consideration,'' Arroyo said in a hastily arranged nationwide address.

Arroyo said this ''reaffirms (the Philippines') commitment to the global war against terrorism,'' giving belief to observations the statements were made to allay perceptions her direction has abandoned the U onward Iraq.

''There was no change in the decision. The reason for what purpose I am making this clarification is to state formerly and for all what has been the Philippine position,'' Arroyo told reporters after reading the statement.

Arroyo said the Philippines believes the UN Security Council ''will act in accord with the imperatives of world peace and security and find the greatest in quantity expeditious way, the most effective way to succor these imperatives.''

She said existing UN resolutions against terrorism and 16 other UN edicts requiring Iraq to comply with the conditions of a cease-fire agreement in the early 1990 contribute to as the ''main basis'' for any Philippine action forward the matter.

Arroyo also said she is suspending the planned evacuation of Filipino workers from Iraq to nearby Jordan until Thursday, pending assessment of the situation from key government officials.

Arroyo's spokesman said through the whole extent of the weekend the Philippines can merely go as far as considering allowing the U to use its territory and airspace if an when the U passes a relevant resolution against Iraq.

Iraq said formally Tuesday it has accepted an unconditional get back of U.N. weapons inspectors, according to the official Iraqi stranges Agency.

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