Reproduced below, for the record, is the official letter of protest sent by IHEU Executive Committee to the government of the United States concerning its disregard for the authority and role of the United Nations Security Council over the matter of Iraq. A military invasion of Iraq led by the US and the UK went ahead, of course, despite massive worldwide protests.

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President George W. Bush

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, D.C. 20500

USA

18 February 2003

Dear Mr President

The Executive Committee of the International Humanist and Ethical Union, representing over 90 Humanist, Secularist, Freethought, and Ethical Culture organisations in 35 countries, hereby calls upon you and your government to refrain from any military action against Iraq without the explicit approval of the United Nations Security Council.

We respectfully remind you that to initiate military action without the approval of the Security Council would be in breach of international law. Such action could lead to long-term global instability, severely damage the reputation of the United States and its allies, and could seriously jeopardise the future of the United Nations and the rule of international law on which world order depends.

Signed by:

Mr Levi Fragell, President, Norway

Mr Roy Brown, Switzerland

Mrs Sonja Eggerickx, Belgium

Mr Larry Jones, United States

Mr John Leeson, United Kingdom

Mrs Robbi Robson, United Kingdom