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PRESS RELEASE 1441 not a legal basis for war says CND5 March 2004: for immediate use Kate Hudson Chair of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament rejected Tony Blair’s claim today that 1441 was a legal basis for war. She drew attention to the opinion of two leading lawyers from Matrix, London, who gave an opinion on the illegality of war on behalf of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, before the Iraq war had even begun. Their opinion clearly stated that the UK would be in breach of International law without a further UN resolution. Article 2(4) of the UN Charter prohibits the use of force by member states except for reasons of self defence or following an authorisation from the Security Council. CND’s case demonstrated that resolution 1441 did not expressly authorise member states to use force. The fact that the US and UK went to war without a second resolution means that the use of force was illegal. CND also rejected any justification of pre emptive war, without an immediate threat, as both illegal and immoral. Kate Hudson, Chair of CND said “The government cannot hide behind Resolution 1441. As Hans Blix said, without a second resolution the war was illegal. We warned the UK Government before the war began that the use of force against Iraq, without Security Council authorisation, was a clear violation of international law. The legal opinion we received stated clearly that resolution 1441 did not expressly authorise member states to use force. CND totally reject Tony Blairs attempts to justify pre-emptive war, without an immediate threat, as both illegal and immoral and calls for the international community to safeguard against any attempts to change international law to allow it.” -ENDS-
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