An Iraqi architect now based in Machynlleth is to take part in the Impeach Blair Tour, which will be launched in Cardiff on Friday. (City Hall, Cardiff, 7 p.m. Friday 12 November - see below for Bangor and Aberystwyth meetings).

Mehdi El-Radhi lived in Baghdad from the age of two, in the Karrada district close to his extended family. At the start of the war between Iraq and Iran the family moved to Kuwait. Mehdi studied architecture at Leeds University, and has based himself in Machynlleth. He said today:

“In parallel to my career, I have always campaigned on issues to do with the environment as well as human rights. I became passionate about stopping the vicious attack on my country, my culture and my religion, when a war on Iraq was mooted. I travelled to Iraq in January 2003 and spent a month with my family as they prepared for the worst.”

He said that it was a very painful time:

“I was lucky enough to make a film about my visit to my family and my homeland which was shown at various forums on my return. I got to know a number of Plaid Cymru politicians through the peace movement.

“I want to do my best to help with the impeachment campaign, and of course I care very much about my relatives in Baghdad. I am in a position to give their perspective on the conflict, which is more important than what Blair and Bush are saying.”

The meeting will be chaired by Party President Dafydd Iwan, who will be joined by Jill Evans MEP and Adam Price MP, who started the process of the Prime Minister’s impeachment in the summer when he published the report A Case to Answer.

Further meetings are scheduled for Aberystwyth on 26 November and Bangor on 10 December.

For more information about the impeachment campaign or to download a copy of the report on the Prime Minister’s conduct in relation to the Iraq war, A Case to Answer, please visit www.impeachBlair.org.

Diwedd/Ends.