The 400,000-strong peace march in London last Saturday to protest war against Iraq has been described as clear indication that civil society has become aware of the "diabolical hegemonic politics" practised by the United States and Britain.

International Movement for a Just World (Just) president Dr Chandra Muzaffar said in a statement that the growing number of protests worldwide, from Western capitals to Asian cities, proved that the conflict over Iraq is not a "clash of civilisations" between the West and Islam.

Rather, he said, it is a struggle between those who seek to build a just world and a small global elite that wants to perpetuate its power.

He described the threat of military action against Iraq from the US and its close ally Britain as a means to extend and consolidate the control and dominance of the "Washington-London axis" over the world.

"By tightening its grip, the axis hopes to gain total command over Iraq's oil wealth which, incidentally, is second only in value to Saudi Arabia's oil reserves," he said.

Just is a Malaysia-based non-profit organisation that strives for public awareness about injustices within the global system.

Middle East connection

Chandra said that attacking Iraq would allow US-backed Israel to exercise military hegemony over the entire Middle East.

"Washington, and to a great extent, London, whose interests in the region are protected by Israel's military and nuclear might, will not tolerate any resistance, let alone a challenge, to the present power structure which is why [it wants] Iraq crushed," he said.

Chandra scoffed at the claim that Iraq was stockpiling weapons of mass destruction a claim the US government has used to justify threats of military action, instead of working towards elimination of all nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in the region.

"Israel, after all, is the only nuclear power in the region. Its neighbours, whose territories have been annexed and occupied by Israel, live in perpetual fear of its nuclear strength," he noted.

He added that the message that a "serious, sincere attempt at making peace" was required in the Middle East was issued in vain because leaders in Washington and London would not listen.