The International Movement for a Just World (Just) president Dr Chandra Muzaffar called for the peace movements worldwide to remain steadfast in their opposition to a war in Iraq and continue to expose the Machiavellian designs of Washington and London and their cohorts.

"Peace movements in particular know that the driving force behind Washington's war o­n Iraq is the desire for total global hegemony," Chandra said in a statement dated Feb 1.

He said the war against Iraq is meant to control over - and not mere access to - the world's second largest oil reserve, which is a vital prerequisite for hegemonic power.

Chandra also cited that Israel is determined to ensure that no Arab nation will have the capacity or the potential to challenge its military and nuclear dominance of the region.