American, Spanish human shields prepared to enter Iraq

AMMAN, Jordan -- Anti-war activists were waiting Sunday for visas to enter Iraq, where they say they want to be "human shields" against a possible U.S.-led war against Saddam Hussein.

Some 10 members of the Chicago-based peace activist group Voices in the Wilderness, along with six Spaniards, were in the Jordanian capital Amman preparing to drive across the border into Iraq.

The activists said they wanted to stay with Iraqi families inside their homes to deter attacks if a war begins.

They hope to join dozens of others from around the world in Baghdad offering to station themselves at strategic locations such as power plants, water purification facilities and archaeological sites.

"I am going to Iraq because I want a better world for my children and my grandchildren," Canadian writer Zahira Houfani, a member of Voices in The Wilderness, told The Associated Press.

"I miss my youngest grandchild ... but my presence with the Iraqi children and my conscience are stronger than my family obligations," said 50-year-old Houfani.

Voices for Iraq

Group member Shane Claiborne, 27, from Philadelphia, said: "We pledge to do all we can to be the voices for our brothers and sisters in Iraq."

The Spaniards were not with the Chicago-based group. Two of them said they arrived in Jordan about two weeks ago to enter Iraq and demonstrate the differences between their government's support for military action and Spanish public opposition.

Spain has joined America and Britain in proposing to deliver an ultimatum to Saddam demanding he give up his suspected banned weapons by March 17 or face war. Iraq denies it has weapons of mass destruction.

"I hope the Spanish presence in Iraq will force our government to retract from its support of the U.S.-led war against the innocent, helpless people of Iraq," said one of the Spaniards, who asked to be identified only as Sandiego, a 45-year-old meteorologist.

U.S. officials say it is a war crime to use civilians as human shields and that there is no way to guarantee their safety.