By IOL South Asia Correspondent

NEW DELHI, March 27 (IslamOnline.net) - Indian opposition leaders on Wednesday, March 26, demanded the government to take a "categorical stand" calling for an end to the U.S.-led war on Iraq and ask the U.N. to intervene and stop this "illegal and unjust" war.

The leaders, including three former prime ministers and chiefs of eight political parties, decided to stage a nation-wide protest on March 31 and appealed to the people to lodge a 'powerful' protest against the war in order to convey a message that "India stands with the rest of the world in opposing this war."

In a joint statement, the leaders charged the U.S. and Britain of violating all international laws and the U.N. Charter by waging this war.

"This illegal and unjust war is being conducted in flagrant defiance of world public opinion'', they said, adding that for the past one week, the Iraqi people had been subjected to a "barbaric attack'' through U.S.-British aerial bombardment.

The statement said the loss of civilian lives and the destruction of property was mounting steadily and Iraq was a country with which India had close and friendly ties.

This assault on the sovereignty of Iraq had been opposed by all sections of the people of India.

India has a long tradition of lending support to countries defending their national sovereignty against imperialist aggression, the statement observed.

"It is unfortunate that the Vajpayee Government has not reflected the opinion of the Indian people by taking a firm stand condemning the U.S. aggression and declaring solidarity with Iraq.

"The Indian Government should forthwith take a categorical stand calling for an end to the war and asking the United Nations to intervene," the statement said.

The signatories included former prime ministers VP Singh, HD Deve Gowda and IK Gujral, Samajwadi party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, NCP president Sharad Pawar, RJD president Laloo Prasad Yadav, Harkishan Singh Surjeet (CPI-M), AB Bardhan (CPI), Debabrata Biswas (AIFB), Dipankar Bhattacharya (CPI-ML) and K. Pankajakshan (RSP).