(30 Nov 1997) English/Nat
Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan is to visit Iraq as part of a 52 country tour he says is aimed at promoting peace between religions.
The move has angered the U-S Ambassador to the United Nations, Bill Richardson, at a time when the U-S and U-N are trying to put pressure on the Iraqi leadership of Saddam Hussein.
Farrakhan also intends to visit Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, again causing controversy because of Farrakhan's well publicised anti-Semitic remarks.
U-S Ambassador to the United Nations Bill Richardson says that Farrakhan's Iraqi trip would be both illegal and unhelpful.
Richardson says the Nation of Islam leader should clear his travel plans with the White House and State Department.
When asked to respond to Richardson's comments, Farrakhan was not apologetic.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Well he's not my advisor, and I am advised by the spirit of God to do what I should do to help my own people in Africa, in the Middle East, in Asia, in the Caribbean to realise the peace that they seek."
SUPER CAPTION: Minister Louis Farrakhan, Nation of Islam
Farrakhan received huge publicity after he held the Million Man March in 1995 in Washington D-C.
It's helped his Nation of Islam movement gain supporters around the world.
He plans to visit his supporters whatever the grievances of the government at home.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I want to serve notice on Mr Richardson and the government of the United States. I am not your slave, this is not your plantation, I am a free man of God and I will do what God's spirit will require of me in the interests of peace and I would hope that the government of the United States and Mr Bill Richardson and all others would see it as exactly what it is."
SUPER CAPTION: Minister Louis Farrakhan, Nation of Islam
The Nation of Islam leader announced that he has plans to visit Israel although he has not applied for the visa yet.
The Israeli government is unlikely to grant one because of his anti-Semitic views.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I hope to also visit Israel and the Palestinian authority and speak to political and religious leaders in Israel as well as political and religious leaders amongst the Palestinians. And hopefully I would like to return to the United States and say to our government, and our President, that the century that we are passing out of has been a century of war, and hopefully the new century will be a century of peace. And if it is to be a century of peace, there must be new approaches to diplomacy new approaches to friendly relations with nations."
SUPER CAPTION: Minister Louis Farrakhan, Nation of Islam
During his comments to reporters, Farrakhan made it clear that he wants friendly relations with the countries already under the U-S State Department's list of terrorist countries.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"So what is your policy toward the world of Islam? Why is there hatred growing toward America in the Islamic world? Why would people strap themselves with bombs and destroy their lives and the lives of innocent people? What is driving them to that? I think that all policy makers need to review their policy."
SUPER CAPTION: Minister Louis Farrakhan, Nation of Islam
It's his planned visit to Iraq which is likely to cause the U-S leadership the most embarrassment.
In a snub to President Clinton, Farrakhan said that Saddam Hussein was more popular among his own people than the U-S President.
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