The Rev. Jesse Jackson called Thursday for a truce to allow humanitarian aid to be delivered to Iraq and asked for permission from both U.S. and Iraq officials to allow religious leaders to visit with prisoners of war. Jackson made his appeal after meeting with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan at U.N. headquarters in New York. "Perhaps there could be the Olympic Truce, where at least both sides agree to stop the shooting to allow food and medicine to get in and water can be turned back on," Jackson said.
U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Negroponte rejected the notion of a truce. "The most effective way to ensure the delivery of humanitarian supplies will be as the allied forces move forward, secure their objectives, secure the cities, restore calm, security and peace to the various parts of the Iraqi nation," Negroponte said. "I think then the conditions will be created for the most expeditious and effective delivery of humanitarian supplies."
On the issue of visits with prisoners of war held by Iraq and the United States, Jackson said he wants "to be convinced that they are alive and well... There are a group of religious leaders willing to take such a mission, but there are tremendous difficulties now." |