SSP Research, Policy & Media Unit
Press Release: 01/05/04

Scottish Socialist Party: Withdraw Iraq troops now

One year to the day after President George Bush proclaimed the war in
Iraq won, Scottish Socialist Party national convenor Tommy Sheridan
has appealed for all Scottish political parties and individuals who
opposed the war to unite together and demand the immediate withdrawal
of coalition troops from Iraq.

Mr Sheridan and the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) were leading
voices in the anti war movement that swept Scotland a year ago, with
over 100,000 people demonstrating in Glasgow on February 15th 2003.
Following the SSP's vocal and determined opposition to the war, its
Scottish Parliament group increased from one representative to six in
the elections that took place on May 1st 2003.

Mr Sheridan said;
"The nauseating photographs of bestial torture committed by US and
British troops in Iraq are an affront to the civilised peoples of the
world.
"Millions of people around the world took to the streets in
opposition to the war before it was launched and they have been
proved absolutely correct.
"The resounding majority of the Iraqi's want the coalition troops
withdrawn and we are calling on all those political parties and
individuals who were opposed to this bloody and futile war to unite
in demanding troops out of Iraq now.
"If the troops are not withdrawn immediately from Iraq the situation
can only get worse.
"It is clear that there is no military solution in Iraq, the troops
are fighting an unwinnable war.
"There has to be a political settlement in the middle east that
brings justice to the peoples of the region.
"There has to be an end to the plundering of the oil wealth by
Western companies while millions live in abject poverty and a
settlement that brings justice to the peoples of Palestine.
"The Scottish Socialist Party calls on all political parties and
individuals in Scotland who opposed the war on Iraq to join together
and demand that British troops are withdrawn from Iraq immediately."