Saddam's opponents told: Unite for victory

BRITAIN today told anti-Saddam Hussein factions to stop fighting among themselves if they want Western help to oust the Iraqi dictator.

With London and Washington deliberating over whether to launch air strikes on Iraq after Sad-dam clashed again with UN weapons inspectors, Foreign Office Minister Derek Fatchett was meeting Iraqi dissidents here to discuss how best to help them.

They want guns, battle-training and propaganda expertise from the Allies but Mr Fatchett was set to tell them that before any request for aid could be considered they had to start working together. He said ahead of the meeting that Britain wanted to ensure there is "a united political voice, showing that there could be a different Iraq - a more open, more pluralistic, more democratic Iraq". Britain remains cautious about covert support of the dozens of Iraqi opposition groups mostly operating abroad - and Mr Fatchett believes the factions, including Kurdish, Shia Muslim and communist groups, have to present a united front before they can progress.

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