Panama's Arab community has warned the government of possible revenge attacks triggered by its support for the United States-led war on Iraq, which began last week, a local daily reported Tuesday.
Walid Zayed, the spokesman of the Arab community, was quoted as saying that possible revenge could involve a series of terrorist attacks on US interests in the country.
Analysts considered the Panama Canal could become the maintarget, as part of maritime trade between the Atlantic and Pacific passes through the canal.
The Panamanian government expressed its "understanding" after the beginning of the US-led attacks on Iraq. President Mireya Moscoso signed a joint communique with President Francisco Flores of El Salvador, President Enrique Bolanos of Nicaragua and President Ricardo Maduro of Honduras, regretting that Iraq did not abide by the UN Resolution 1441, and asking its immediate disarmament.
In the name of the Arab community, Zayed asked Moscoso not to support Washington.
He warned that among the US interests threatened were the strategic spots for world trade, such as the Panama Canal.
He said Moscoso should respect Iraq's rights to have its own government and defend itself.
(Xinhua News Agency March 26, 2003)
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