Letters

THE war with Iraq is not over. Because of the overwhelming superiority of the invading forces, the resistance by their armed forces in normal formation dissipated. The resistance now is with guerrilla tactics.

The war is not over until an Iraqi government accepts the legitimacy of the victory by the coalition.

The only way to achieve a closure of hostilities, short of the unconditional surrender of the former regime, is to adopt the French proposal of a provisional Iraqi government then the early election of a new government with the authority to enter into a peace treaty. - Geoffrey Bulmer, Billingham.

EURO

I CONGRATULATE the Kingdom of Sweden for voting against joining the euro.

Our Scandinavian cousins deserve a pat on their backs for saying no to Brussels.

Many left wingers and doom bringers hoped the dreadful murder of the pro politician Anna Lindh would sway the vote, but the level-headed Swedes stood strong and voted with patriotic pride.

I hope that Tony Blair allows such a referendum in the United Kingdom, so that we can also say no to the euro and remain British, which is what must of us want.

The history of Great Britain and the bulldog spirit will shine through as we stand shoulder to shoulder to say no to the Labour Government and its left-wing allies in Brussels. - Christopher Wardell, Darlington.

THE people of Sweden have delivered a loud and clear message to the EU.

However, the European Union's Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Pedro Solbes said that he respects the no of the Swedish people in the referendum on the euro, but that it cannot remain outside the euro zone forever.

YES! was my reaction to the news that Sweden had voted no to accepting the euro.

Why are we not going to get a referendum on the new Constitution that is being proposed or is Mr Blair going to sign us up, knowing that it will take away the option from us to accept or deny the euro?

One has to ask the question: why are politicians so anxious to give away our sovereignty and freedom? Do they realise that they will be doing themselves out of a job or are they happy to be rubber-stamp politicians? If all this goes ahead, will we have to dissolve parliament because it has no authority?

Is this what our fathers and forefathers fought and died for? - B Tingate, Darlington.

"The Commission expects all the members of the EU to become members of the euro zone at a certain point", Commissioner Solbes said as he gave his first reaction to the Swedish poll.

So this is the contempt Mr Solbes, who is appointed, not elected, has for democracy. Every time the people say no, as in Denmark over monetary union, and in Ireland over enlargement, the EU will simply ask the people again until they get the decision that the EU requires.

The reason that our Government will continue to deny a referendum on the euro and why they are attempting to avoid one on the European Constitution is that they are fully aware of what the result will be.

But without consent from the people the project is doomed to fail. The question is no longer if. It is when. - Neil Herron, Sunderland.

ASYLUM SEEKERS

PEOPLE in Oxford are fighting to stop asylum camps being built on their doorstep. It will be filled with hundreds of men whom no one knows or knows what they are.

These camps are going to be built through the sheer incompetence of this Government to get to grips with this situation.

In the last few years this country has been under invasion and this rubbish Government has done nothing.

It really is a sad situation. Someone must tell Tony Blair that he cannot save the world and his priority must be the British people who pay his salary. - A Parkin, Bishop Auckland.

Hartlepool HOSPITAL

I'M sure the good people of Hartlepool would like some clarification from those who are supposed to be Hartlepool's leaders as to their commitment to securing long-term hospital provision in Hartlepool.

There is no need for flowery statements or long speeches from Peter Mandelson and Coun Boddy which may evade the question or baffle with bull.

I simply challenge these two public figures to promise 'to fight to guarantee that Hartlepool will retain its hospital and all essential services (especially Accident and Emergency) on the current site'.

This will ease public concern and ensure public confidence - that we are all on the same side.

If they are not prepared to make such a statement through the press, should we presume their support is for the transfer of essential services from Hartlepool? - Geoff Lilley, Hartlepool.