Umno Youth plans to initiate legal action against leaders of the countries involved in the invasion of Iraq, its chief Hishammuddin Hussein announced today.

He said exco member Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh has been assigned to study international law to determine if there is a case to bring the leader of the US and his allies to court.

Long shot?

Hishammuddin, who chaired the Umno Youth exco meeting in Kuala Lumpur this morning, said the legal action would possibly be initiated in the name of the organisation itself or Aman Malaysia (the peace movement that it is spearheading together with non-governmental organisations).

He told a press conference that Umno Youth would, within its capacity, look at international law or lobby the United Nations to investigate the US and its allies.

Britain (with 40,000 troops) and Australia (2,000) have joined the US-led war o­n Iraq, which began o­n March 20.

"Before we go further in this process, we need to know where we stand from the perspective of international law. If there is a basis for us to take legal action, we will not hesitate to carry out the plan because our stand is clear that we do not practise any fear or favour," Hishamuddin explained.

"We will use every possible means...this will include protests, taking legal action, and creating a humanitarian fund together with countries and NGOs which are against the war."

When asked whether the legal action was a long shot, Hishammuddin replied: "You just wait and see."

Invasion unjust

Hishammuddin said the drastic action was not meant to cause problems for Americans and Britons, but that it was necessary because the leaders of their countries have shown no respect for international law.

"There should not be double standards or hypocrisy in matters pertaining to universal issues. Action is needed because people are dying, the US is acting unilaterally and it is not concerned about (other) voices in the world," he said.

Hishammuddin said the US-led invasion of Iraq must be condemned because it was totally unjust.

"The US has failed to prove that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction and (has been unable to) link the country with terrorism or al-Qaeda," he said.

Hishammuddin also announced other decisions made at today's meeting, including a plan to hold a peaceful demonstration o­n Saturday.

Umno Youth expects some 50,000 people at the rally, which will begin 2pm at Padang Merbok and end at Dataran Merdeka.

Hishamuddin called o­n peace-loving Malaysians including members of the opposition parties to join the demonstration.

However, the opposition parties are already planning to hold o­ne from KLCC to the US embassy at 2.30pm the same day.

The Youth leader also said a humanitarian fund would be launched at Dataran Merdeka at the end of the rally.

"The fund will be channeled through Wisma Putra as soon as a sufficient amount is collected," he said, without specifying the amount, since several other organisations have also begun fund-raising activities.