Use Of Toxic Gas In Military Action Against Iraq

EDM number 885 in 2002-03, proposed by John Barrett on 13/03/2003.

That this House notes the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention signed by the United Kingdom, United States and over 140 other countries, which prohibits the use of chemical agents that 'can cause death, temporary incapitation or permanent harm to humans' in international military conflict; further notes that it is United Kingdom policy not to allow troops to participate in operations involving the use of non-lethal or riot control gases such as o-chlorobenzylidene malonontrite (CS) gas and pepper sprays; is deeply concerned that the United States Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, has shown a willingness to use in military action against Iraq, similar toxic agents to those that resulted in the deaths of 129 hostages in the Moscow theatre siege of October 2002; is particularly disturbed by Mr Rumsfeld's suggestion that such gases could be used in situations involving women and children; and calls on the United Kingdom Government to press the United States Administration to uphold the provisions of the 1997 Convention by making a clear statement of intention not to use such toxic gases in any military action against Iraq.

This motion has been signed by a total of 36 MPs.