- Mikhail Gorbachev last night branded George W Bush and
Tony Blair a threat to world peace.
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- The former Russian president said US and British plans
to attack Iraq and topple Saddam Hussein would wreck the international
coalition against terrorism.
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- And he singled out Bush's go-it-alone policy in the face
of concern from world leaders as the key component to putting global security
at risk.
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- Mr Gorbachev, who dragged the former Soviet Union out
of the Cold War era, insisted political negotiation was the only way to
achieve peace throughout the world.
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- The 71-year-old said: "I strongly hope the US and
Britain will not be fighting a war in the Middle East.
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- "They should be using political means not military.
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- "I am generally concerned about the situation in
the Middle East.
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- "The right approach to this issue can only be developed
in co-operation with the United States and Russia as co-sponsors of the
peace process, the European Union and the Arab countries. They should all
work together."
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- On US plans for a large-scale military invasion of Iraq,
Mr Gorbachev said: "I believe very strongly such plans should not
be made.
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- "We have a full set of political, economic and diplomatic
methods that should be used to deal with Iraq. America must not ignore
the UN Security Council.
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- "Important and serious political decisions should
not be taken unilaterally.
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- "If such decisions are taken unilaterally that could
destroy the coalition against terror, that is the reality.
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- "Iraq is an important country and both that nation
and the world should not be put at risk without really trying all the other
various measures and approaches available."
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- His swipe at joint Anglo-American military projects will
be embarrassing to No10.
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- Mr Blair has been widely regarded as President Bush's
"poodle" for his unswerving backing of his strike plans.
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- Mr Gorbachev said the PM should revert to the "political
path" used in the Northern Ireland peace process.
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- Speaking in Portcullis House, the new building for MPs
at Westminster, he added: "Even though there are still problems there,
you took the right path. The path of the political settlement. That is
a good message for Britain and all others.
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- "Such things should be addressed politically."
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- He also criticised Britain's controversial decision to
export parts for F-16 fighter jets via the US for use in Israel against
Palestinians - which was approved by the Prime Minister.
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- His damning indictment of US-British policy came on a
two-day visit to Britain to appeal to world leaders for help in destroying
Russia's stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons.
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- Mr Gorbachev earned worldwide admiration for ushering
in the era of glasnost and perestroika in Russia.
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- He worked relentlessly to force the US and others to
join his campaign to cut weapons of mass destruction and improve world
security.
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- But yesterday he was despairing of the aggressive agenda
coming from the White House, supported by Downing Street, on Iraq and the
Middle East.
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- In a warning to Mr Blair Mr Gorbachev said: "Allies
of the US should be saying 'don't launch a new arms race. I am concerned
at growing military budgets.
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- "President Bush is concerned about the security
of his nation, we understand that.
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- "But we are still dealing with the consequences
of the old arms race without starting a new one.
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- "Why do that when we are looking for money to cut
weapons of mass destruction and to cut poverty in the world, which is often
the cause of terrorism.
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- "I am trying very hard to project a certain logic
on this to the people in a position to take decisions."
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- Hours after speaking to the Daily Mirror yesterday, Mr
Gorbachev joined members of the public to watch Mr Blair at Question Time
in the Commons.
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- Mr Gorbachev is founder of the Green Cross international
campaign to slash stockpiles of large weapons.
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- Western intelligence agencies have warned corrupt ex-KGB
officers and military officials could net huge bribes from terrorist groups
and Mafia outfits to sell nuclear materials or nerve agents.
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- He said the "terrible legacy" of the Cold War
could be exploited by rogue states and terrorists like al-Qaeda.
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- Mr Gorbachev warned: "The battle against al-Qaeda
should be continued because they are a big organisation and they are a
danger.
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- "Groups will try to acquire these weapons."
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- He wants more EU cash to get rid of the massive arsenal
of chemical weapons being stored unsafely in Russia.
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- Mr Gorbachev said: "The US and the Soviet Union
each spent the equivalent of 10 trillion dollars on the arms race. Now
hundreds of billions will be needed to destroy these weapons."
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- http://www.mirror.co.uk
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