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Below - a statement issued by Sheffield Trades Council. Anybody got any more news of this incident? SHEFFIELD TRADES UNION COUNCIL. Established 1858 E-mail: billronksley@hotmail.com 10th December, 2003 Cir.2003-26. IMPORTANT STATEMENT. ATTACK ON IRAQI TRADE UNION HEADQUARTERS BY US FORCES. On Saturday, 6th December, dozens of US occupation troops with 10 armoured cars attacked the temporary headquarters of the Iraqi Federation of Workers` Trade Unions in the Allawi Al Hilla Area of Baghdad and arrested 8 trade union leaders and officials who were handcuffed and taken away to an unknown destination. Without giving any reason or explanation the attackers ransacked the offices,destroyed Iraqi Federation of Workers` Trade Unions possessions, tore down banners and posters condemning acts of terror, painted over the names of the Iraqi Federation of Workers` Trade Unions and of the General Union of Transport Workers on the front of the building, and smashed windows. The Iraqi Federation of Workers` Trade Unions has condemned the raid as being "an unjustified terrorising act" and called for the immediate release of those arrested. Many of the leaders of the newly formed Iraqi Federation of Workers` Trade Unions have suffered terribly under the former Saddam Regime. Many of them were forced to live in exile to avoid death and torture. These same trade union leaders are now endeavouring to organise genuine democratic trade unions in place of the hated so-called "yellow unions" which existed under the former Saddam Regime and, unfortunately, continue to exist under the present Regime of occupation. The Sheffield Trades Union Council calls upon the British Government and the British Trade Union Movement to support the Iraqi Federation of Workers` Trade Unions in its legitimate demand for the immediate release of its 8 arrested leaders and officials. Additionally, the Sheffield Trades Union Council calls upon the British Government and the British Trade Union Movement to give full support to the working people of Iraq in their struggle to build a strong, democratic, united trade union movement. Yours fraternally, Bill Ronksley, Secretary. --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.547 / Virus Database: 340 - Release Date: 03/12/2003 _______________________________________________ Sent via the discussion list of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq. To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-discuss To contact the list manager, email casi-discuss-admin@lists.casi.org.uk All postings are archived on CASI's website: http://www.casi.org.uk