WE, the undersigned, are deeply concerned about the extreme course of action on which our prime minister, influenced by President Bush, is embarking vis a vis Iraq.

We do not accept ? even if it were clear which of the parties involved were terrorists ? that this ?War of Terrorism? is just, reasonable, or likely to produce any effective outcome other than yet more suffering; notably that of the innocent civilian population of Iraq.

We are concerned to know what the real agenda is: oil? The Bush family involvement in the manufacture of arms? The perceived need to reinforce the status of the US, and by reflection the UK, as world leaders?

We would like to know why it is perceived as essential that we, possessors of numerous weapons of mass destruction ? nuclear, chemical, biological ? insist that Iraq be inspected when the US refuses to be? And is there not hypocrisy in our unwillingness to relinquish our similar, indeed superior, arsenal, whilst insisting that they renounce theirs?

Are the US, and at their heels the UK, using Hussein as a scapegoat in the absence of their ability to track down the perpetrators of September 11? And what about America?s willingness to turn a blind eye to atrocities committed by countries termed their ?allies?: Indonesia, Israel, Russia?

We are by no means alone in saying that we do not wish this war on Iraq to be carried out in our name. ?An eye for an eye is a terrible way to blind the world,? said Ghandi. We seek a just and peaceful settlement by negotiation and discourse ? if and when international disputes arise.

Margaret Quinn, James Squires, Margaret Davey, Rhiannon Cain, P J Bouquet, Emily Craddock, Michael Lovejoy, S H Bouquet, Martin Mowforth, Terry Faull, Martin Legg, C J Allen, M L Allen, Beth Roberts.