RUSSIA: MOSCOW: US MUSLIM LEADER LOUIS FARRAKHAN VISIT

(29 Jan 1998) English/Nat The Black American Muslim leader Louis Farrakhan has warned that if the U-S and Britain unilaterally go ahead with military action against Iraq then the whole Muslim world would be inflamed against the two countries. He also proposed that Baghdad should allow snap UN weapons' inspections over a six month period after which sanctions should be lifted. The Nation of Islam leader hoped Russia would reassert itself as a world power to balance the influence of the West. The controversial leader of the Nation of Islam made the comments after attending prayers in Moscow's central mosque to mark the end of Ramadan. Farrakhan is on a visit to Russia at the invitation of the Mufti of Siberia and as part of a world tour. Since the breakup of the Soviet Union, Islam has grown rapidly in Russia and the former Soviet states of the Caucasus and Central Asia. The Black American Muslim leader expressed gratitude to Russian President Boris Yeltsin for helping ease tensions over U.N. weapons inspections in Iraq and warned of a strong response if the U-S and Britain unilaterally went ahead with military action. SOUNDBITE: (English) "If Iraqis continue to die then the whole Muslim world will be inflamed against America and against Great Britain should they come together to act unilaterally in spite of what the Security Council may say." SUPER CAPTION: Louis Farrakhan, Nation of Islam leader Farrakhan suggested that US president Bill Clinton and Iraqi President Saddam Hussein agree to a six-month period in which weapons inspectors can conduct spot checks anywhere in Iraq, including presidential palaces. If no weapons are found, sanctions should end. SOUNDBITE: (English) " All sanctions should and must be lifted because the people of Iraq are dying. They don't need any more bombing they need an end to their death and destruction and the whole Muslim world should unite as one to say to America enough is enough. SUPER CAPTION: Louis Farrakhan, Nation of Islam leader He said that he hoped Russia would reassert itself as a world power to balance the influence of the West. Iraq was the first stop on Farrakhan's tour, which began in early December. U.S. officials had strongly advised him not to go, and said some stops would violate a U.S. travel ban. Farrakhan also visited Libya, and intends to visit North Korea and Cuba - all countries that Americans are warned not to enter. Last year a hundred thousand black men converged on Washington for his Million Man March to demand what he called the end to discrimination against blacks by anglo-saxon Americans. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...