Geneva ? The World Council of Churches called on the United States to “desist from any military threats against Iraq” and urged America’s allies not to join “pre-emptive military strikes against a sovereign state under the pretext of the ‘war on terrorism’.”

A meeting of the governing Central Committee, which also took steps to shape the council’s own future, said Monday that Iraq should guarantee human rights and comply with United Nations demands to destroy weapons of mass destruction.

Addressing the Sept. 11 anniversary, the council acknowledged terrorism is true threat, but said America’s war on terrorism was the wrong approach, instead advocating “building a more just world order” including respect for human rights.

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