Start of war in Iraq met with anger in NZ

New Zealand 's response to the outbreak of war in Iraq today has been one of anger and frustration.

US-led forces began the war against Iraq about 2.30pm NZT.

The reaction across New Zealand was swift and uniform.

Hundreds of protesters gathered peacefully in towns and cities nationwide to express their anger at the war.

In Parliament, Prime Minister Helen Clark reiterated that her Government did not support the war without United Nations backing.

"I want to state again, for the record, that this government will not be assisting a war for which there was no case at this time," she said.

"Faced with a choice between supporting peaceful and diplomatic means which were working, and war which cut off that process, this government made the only rational choice, which is to choose the peaceful means.

"I believe we had the strong support of a majority of this House and the people of New Zealand in making that choice," she said.

Across the Tasman, thousands of protesters hit the streets of Sydney and Melbourne after prime minister John Howard said 2000 of Australia's troops would take part in the attack.

New Zealand's 25 Catholic and Anglican bishops said they were dismayed by the action in Iraq.

"We are at one with all who believe this war was not justified so long as other means of achieving disarmament had not yet been exhausted," they said in a joint statement.

The bishops said the inevitable death of thousands of people could not be condoned.

Greenpeace New Zealand spokesman Robbie Kelman said the war was very "troubling".

"What we believe that we are seeing is a new United States unilateral approach to international relations where they go in and bomb anyone they don't like."

It set a dangerous precedent for possible future conflicts in countries such as North Korea, Pakistan and Israel.

Security was today stepped up around the United States embassy and the British and Australian High Commissions in Wellington.

The pavements outside the US and Australian diplomatic posts in suburban Thorndon were fenced off and temporary fencing put outside alternative entrances.

Temporary fencing was also put on side streets flanking the nearby British High Commission and new trespass warnings posted on its front fence.

The Aviation Security Service (Avsec) said it would boost security at New Zealand airports.

Avsec general manager Mark Everitt said a range of unspecified additional measures were being put in place over the next few days.

Sections of airports may be segregated to provide extra security, but Mr Everitt said he wanted to minimise inconvenience to the public.

Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff warned New Zealanders against all travel to the Middle East.

"This applies particularly to New Zealanders in Kuwait, Syria, Jordan, Israel, and the Palestinian Authority, where people should be aware of the potential risk by conventional, chemical and biological weapons."

Mr Goff said New Zealanders living in Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Lebanon, Yemen, the United Arab Emirates, Iran and southeastern regions of Turkey should also leave unless there were compelling reasons to stay.

Mr Goff warned New Zealanders travelling overseas to maintain a high level of "security awareness".

The Government also promised $3.3 million in humanitarian aid to help with the aftermath of the war.

Former New Zealand ambassador to the UN Terence O'Brien said the Government's stance on Iraq should shield this country from a terror backlash, something Australia now faced.

Mr O'Brien said Muslim terrorists would see Australia as a prime target for attack because of its government's whole-hearted support for the United States-led war on Iraq.

He said New Zealand should offer humanitarian aid in the event of a UN operation following the conflict.

"But the UN has to be very careful that when it launches a humanitarian operation that it's not seen to be under American control, which might inflame Muslim countries even more."

Air New Zealand said tonight none of its international flight had been cancelled because of the conflict.

Meanwhile, New Zealand's finance markets appeared to take the onset of war in Iraq in their stride, with sharemarket and currency slightly positive.

The kiwi dollar was up slightly at US55.02c from US54.83c last night, as the US dollar weakened slightly. The dip followed a warning by President George W Bush that the war might more difficult and prolonged than thought.

- NZPA

Herald Feature: Iraq