THE HAGUE, 21/03/03 - Premier Jan Peter Balkenende yesterday morning justified the attack by the US, UK and Australia on Iraq. In a statement broadcast on television and radio, he repeated that his cabinet supports the war politically, but not militarily.

The Christian democratic (CDA) premier said the Netherlands is not participating due to the lack of broad support in parliament and society. Balkenende's fellow-party member, Foreign Minister Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, however added that the Netherlands could replace US units if gaps arose somewhere in the world because they were moved in connection with the attack on Iraq.

Balkenende, Home Affairs Minister Johan Remkes and Integration Minister Hilbrand Nawijn will hold talks on Saturday with representatives of Iraqi, Turkish and Moroccan organizations. The Pim Fortuyn List (LPF) party wants the government to explain as quickly as possible what it is doing to prevent escalation among the population. MP Eerdmans is particularly concerned about a call by the Arab European League (AEL) to "demonstrate abhorrence" at places including the American embassy in The Hague.

The AEL said yesterday that "the Americans will leave the Arab Land defeated and humiliated by the people's resistance to their occupation and in the name of the Almighty Allah. " A spokesman for the Dutch arm of the movement said "we consider the Netherlands an enemy now that it is giving political support to the US. "