CAIRO, August 13 (IsmamOnline.net) – As Arabs called for an immediate halt to sweeping US offensives in the holy Iraqi city of Najaf, law experts underlined that such offensives, under the pretext of confronting Moqtada Sadr's Mehdi Army militia, are classified as "genocide", according to the recognized rules of international law.

The Arab League and the Egyptian government have Thursday, August12 , voiced their concern over the deadly fighting in Najaf, calling for the resumption of dialogue.

Arab League Secretary General Amr Mussa issued a statement warning that any attack on the holy sites of Najaf could have "dangerous consequences".

The head of the22 -member pan-Arab body urged "all the warring parties to immediately halt military operations under way in Najaf in order to allow the evacuation of the dead and wounded."

As US troops, backed by some Iraqi forces, sealed off all approaches to the heart of Najaf, which includes the revered Imam Ali shrine, US warplanes pounded Mehdi Army positions, forcing civilians to flee. The unprecedented intensity of the fighting in Najaf raised fears of a high casualty toll.

Mussa also said he was "confident the interim Iraqi government could start an immediate dialogue in order to stop the fighting."

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit also issued a statement saying Cairo had "expressed its concern over the latest developments in Najaf ... and urged restraint on all parties."

Genocide

Commenting on the deteriorating situation in Najaf, an Egyptian international law expert said, "What's happening in Najaf is classified as genocide and a humanitarian crisis by all means".

Hassan Ahmed Omar, speaking to IslamOnline.net, further emphasized the necessity of calling "upon the UN General Assembly to convene" in order to take decisions with regard to trying perpetrators of such massacres.

Omar accused the UN Security Council of conspiring with the United States , underlining that the Security Council could not be trusted to "make any calls" as long as the situation in Iraq is concerned.

"According to the rules of the international law, it is impermissible that a state acts as an adversary and arbitrator simultaneously. The United States and Britain take part in the violations perpetrated in Iraq and control the UNSC. Their involvement in the UNSC decision-making regarding such violations contradicts the simple rules of the international law."

Omar sets the example of the 1956 Tripartite Aggression against Egypt , when Washington insisted not to resort to the UNSC to issue a decision in this regard. Britain and France, the offending states, permanent members of the Security Council, have the right to veto any decision taken.

He added that the United States managed then to refer the whole issue to the UN General Assembly that issued a resolution demanding the aggressive troops withdraw and to be replaced by peace-keeping forces.

"Based on this incident, the UN General Assembly should be resorted to, with regard to all violations attributed to the United States and Britain against Iraq ," Omar said.

Omar expressed his confidence that a condemnation resolution would be issued against the occupation powers, once the international community refers the case to the UN General Assembly.

Days ago, Iraqi Sunni and Shiite leaders slammed what they saw as a "bloodbath" and called upon the international community to step in to rein the Americans.

Intensive Move Required

Professor of international law Dr. Ali Al-Ghatit agreed on this viewpoint, emphasizing that what occurs in Najaf and other Iraqi cities is classified as an organized criminal genocide.

He underlined that what occurs "is as clear and evident as the sun itself," and attention should be focused on "planning the steps of confrontations."

"We have a lesson to be learnt through the West Bank separation barrier campaign, when the Palestinian and Arab organizations have managed to obtain a historical verdict by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) condemning Israel for setting up that barrier," Al-Ghatit said.

He called upon the Arab and Muslim governments and peoples to take the necessary steps for launching a similar campaign against the US violations in Iraq , including genocide operations, human rights violations and organized torture campaigns.

Amnesty Follows Up

On his part, director of Amnesty International ME Office Al-Baqer Al-Afeef has emphasized that the organization follows up closely the situation in Iraq through its Iraqi correspondent.

He added that the representatives of the organization have not obtained accurate information or evident statistics regarding the situation in Najaf so far. Yet, he said, all messages emphasize the warnings by the United States for civilians to get out of the holy city and a large number of families have already been seen departing.

Al-Afeef underlined that the organization is about to issue a report on the situation in Najaf within 24 hours.

News agencies reported that 165 have been killed and about 600 wounded during the past 24 hours.

Iraqi Ministry of Health media official Mai Abdel-Karim said Thursday that " 165Iraqis have been killed and 594 wounded as a result of the military confrontations in Baghdad and other southern Iraqi cities during the past 24 hours."

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