Iraqis seek apology from Peters

Winston Peters named Iraqis living in New Zealand who he claimed were linked to Saddam Hussein. Picture / Fotopress

Two Iraqi men accused by Winston Peters of being Saddam Hussein's men want an apology from the New Zealand First leader.

Mr Peters named Omar Ali and Amer Salman and "a man named Jazwan" as senior members of Saddam's former Baath Party under the protection of parliamentary privilege in June.

He also alleged in the House that Mr Ali was a "former chief person in the police of Saddam Hussein".

Mr Ali and Mr Salman today went to Parliament to present a 724 signature petition -- signed by friends and members of the Iraqi community -- to Progressive MP Matt Robson that asks for the attacks to be stopped.

From the steps of Parliament, Mr Salman rang Mr Peters on his cellphone, and also talked to his secretary, urging him to meet them but could not immediately locate the MP.

Mr Peters later brushed off reporters seeking comment from him on what the two Iraqis were saying. He said he had received no messages from the Iraqis, and then accused the news media of being unprofessional and basing their questions on "flimsy" evidence.

Mr Salman told reporters it had been two months since Mr Peters had accused the men of being part of Saddam's regime but the MP had produced no evidence to back his claims.

Mr Robson said the men had a legal opinion from a leading Queen's Counsel that there were grounds for them to sue Mr Peters for defamation.

While he had made the comments in Parliament, Mr Peters had also released a press statement on May 31 which was not covered by parliamentary privilege, Mr Robson said.

Mr Ali said the men had been told it would cost at least $200,000 to mount a defamation case, a sum they simply could not afford.

Mr Salman and Mr Ali today both denied they had been members of Saddam's Baath Party, or associated with Saddam.

"We've never been a member of Baath Party. Actually we are against that regime, that's why we've been here for 10 years," Mr Salman said.

"At least he should have given us a proper apology. I think he's lost his credibility. Nobody in New Zealand should believe him any more if he cannot provide evidence with the types of accusation he makes."

Mr Ali said he had lived in New Zealand almost eight years. He had a Masters degree and had worked as a civil engineer in Iraq. He had tried to work in his profession in New Zealand but had been unable to do so and now had a job for a private company in Auckland.

"I don't have any connection with Iraqi police," he said, adding that to accuse him of being a former chief of police for Saddam was "not a small thing".

Mr Robson also said today that nobody had been able to find the man called Jazwan, referred to by Mr Peters.

"We know of a song called A Man Called Sue but nobody has found Jazwan."

- NZPA