NEW DELHI: India Thursday said the US-led multi-nation operations against Iraq had gone beyond the Security Council mandate as indicated by reports of heavy Civilian casualties in the coalition bombing raids.

Expressing India’s concern foreign minister V C Shukla said this was against all accepted norms and methods of war.

Talking to reporters on his return here from Belgrade, he said India once again urged all countries involved in the conflict to ensure that the war operations were conducted in strict conformity with the U N security council resolution.

Reacting to the reports of large scale deaths in aerial bombing of a civilian shelter in Baghdad, the ministers said it was a matter of deep regret and distress that civilian centres were being hit despite the international community’s appeal.

There have also been reports of attacks on schools, dwelling houses, community shelters and apartment buildings and the Indian government expresses its deep concern at the targeting of civilians, Shukla said.

Shukla said India had pleaded that every possible pre caution be taken to protect the civilian population against the devastation and risks of these military operations.

The minister, who had participated in the meeting of foreign ministers from 15 non-aligned nations in Belgrade, said it was necessary that the Security Council inset more regularly to keep the gulf was under constant review.

In the peace proposals which India pressed for adoption as a NAM initiative, we had also proposed that open meetings of the council be held frequently to keep the Gulf situation under constant review. Iran has urged India to withdraw the refueling facilities for U S transport planes en route to the gulf and observe strict neutrality in the ongoing war.

Stating this here Thursday, head of the visiting Iranian parliamentary delegation, Hojetisiam Muntaja Banya  told reporters that he had conveyed the Iranian feelings to the petroleum and parliamentary affairs minister, Satya Prakash Malaviya  when he called on him here today,

In a reference to the communal Situation in this country, he said Tran could not remain silent about the “sufferings” of Muslims in India, and urged the Indian government to take steps to protect the lives and property of Muslims in this country and preserve their Status,

The Iranian leader said the delegation had met a cross section of Indian leaders, including the vice president Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma, the Congress (I) president Rajiv Gandhi and the deputy external affairs minister Digvijay Singh.

According to the Hojetisiam Banya, the four member Iranian Majlis delegation during its stay here had canvassed support for the five point peace plan of the Iranian speaker.

The proposal include immediate cease-fire and cessation of hostilities in the Gulf, lifting of food and medicine embargo on Iraq, simultaneous withdrawal of Iraqi troops from Kuwait and coalition forces from the region, stationing of forces from Islamic countries in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia and unconditional stoppage of emigration of Jews to the occupied Palestinian territories.

Article extracted from this publication >> February 22, 1991