MEDIA REACTION IRAQ; HARARE

UNCLAS HARARE 001169 SIPDIS DEPT FOR INR/R/MR AND AF/PDPA FOR DALTON, MITCHELL AND SIMS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPAO KMDR ZI SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION IRAQ; HARARE ¶1. Under headline "Bush and Blair lied about Iraq" the pro-government weekly "The Sunday Mirror" dedicated its June 8 editorial to criticizing the United States-led war against Iraq, saying, "the invasion of Iraq was unjust." Adding: "Bush and Blair are shameless liars." Excerpts: ¶2. "Statements by a senior U. S. defense official that Pentagon had `no reliable information' that Iraq had chemical and biological weapons have clearly left both the White House and Number 10 Downing Street with egg in the face. . .After nearly two months in which British and U. S. troops have occupied huge swaths of Iraq, detaining and interrogating leading Ba'athist officials and scientists, no trace has been found of any chemical and biological weapons arsenal. . .Global opinion appears to be vindicated in its criticism of the unjustified attack on Iraq. As Bush and Blair, along with the Australians, renew their hunt for Iraq's elusive WMDs, the world remains firm in its conviction that the invasion of Iraq was unjust and that Bush and Blair are shameless liars." SULLIVAN