Catholic bishops slam US policy on Iraq

More than fifty Roman Catholic bishops in the United States have signed a petition appealing to President Clinton to lift UN sanctions against Iraq.

The fifty-four signatories -- one fifth of the Catholic bishops in the United States -- said the sanctions were immoral.

They said they were killing thousands of children each month and depriving innocent people of food.

Three of the bishops say they are now eating only the equivalent of rations the Iraqis receive, as a protest.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service