Global voices on the Iraq crisis

Global voices on the Iraq crisis

As the possibility of war with Iraq edges closer, BBC News Online has been sampling public opinion around the world.

Have President Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair made the case for war? Do America and Britain have the moral justification to act alone against Saddam Hussein? Or should war only be a last resort and then only with international backing?

Open the galleries below to read people's views.

VOICES FROM IRAQ

"It'll mean everything to us if Saddam is finished off and God willing it will happen soon"

Ra'aof Aziz, 63, retired

In pictures

Northern Iraq

People living in the Kurdish-controlled part of northern Iraq have suffered years of repression under Saddam Hussein.

As war looms, the BBC asked local people in the city of Sulaymaniyah about their hopes and fears.

VIEWS FROM CAIRO

"I reject all war. I want to live in peace in a Muslim, Arab country."

Nawal Alam, tourism services worker

In pictures

Egypt

Feelings are running high in Cairo over the expected war in Iraq.

With attempts to find a diplomatic solution at an end and troops massing in the region, BBC News Online's Martin Asser asked eight people in the Egyptian capital for their views.

US VIEWS ON WAR

"I support the president and I think it is important we take care of the threat posed by Iraq."

Larry Wingate, 35, researcher

In pictures

United States - Washington

BBC News Online's Steve Schifferes spoke to ordinary Americans on the streets of Washington to find out what a war with Iraq would mean to them.

VIEWS FROM NEW YORK

"I am in support of war but with a very heavy heart ... I am praying for a short war"

Philip Franco, 27, assistant school principal

In pictures

United States - New York

BBC News Online spoke to people on the streets of New York to find out their views on the risks and dangers of war, and their assessment on how their government has handled the crisis

UK VIEWS ON IRAQ

"I'm fully behind Tony Blair. Saddam is a dictator and he is killing people in his own country"

Alister Fraser, 58, Glasgow

In pictures

United Kingdom

BBC News Online spoke to people around the UK on whether they think Prime Minister Tony Blair is right to give strong backing to the United States over Iraq.

FRENCH WAR VIEWS

"I agree that Saddam Hussein is a nasty piece of work, but surely we've moved on from the time when we had to fight wars to prove our point."

Bubette Theleme, 20, student

In pictures

France

France led opposition in the UN Security Council to war on Iraq, and its threat to use a veto was seen as instrumental in persuading pro-war countries to drop a second resolution.

The BBC asked ordinary French people on the streets of Paris what they thought about military action, and found strong support for their government's position.

RUSSIAN WAR VIEWS

"Saddam Hussein must be pushed out. Iraq is not a humanitarian country, there's a crazy tyranny there"

Andrei Kazachenko, 30, historian

In pictures

Russia

Russia has consistently opposed war, and has threatened to veto a new Security Council resolution endorsing military action.

The BBC asked ordinary Russians on the streets of Moscow how they feel about the current crisis.

VOICES FROM HALABJA

"Getting rid of Saddam will be a positive thing if it leads to a better government. I don't think Saddam will get away this time."

Keykavos Derakhpoor, 55, unemployed

In pictures

Iraq

In March 1988, Iraqi aircraft dropped chemical weapons shells on the Kurdish town of Halabja in an attack which left 5,000 dead and 7,000 injured or with long-term illnesses.

On the 15th anniversary of the attack, the BBC asked people living in and around Halabja today how they feel about the prospect of war.

ANGOLANS' VIEWS ON IRAQ

"We don't want to hear this talk of war, we want to talk about peace"

Susana Miguel, 18, waitress

In pictures

Angola

At one stage the big powers were jostling for Angola's vote at the Security Council.

The BBC's Justin Pearce asked Angolans, whose own country has just emerged from civil war, how they feel about a conflict with Iraq.