While millions of people in the UK have opinions on whether or not Iraq should be invaded, few have seen the problems in that country first hand.

Amer Albazaz has and he makes a powerful plea in The Argus today for the United Nations to stay its hand.

He says Iraq is already paying a high price in human misery for UN-imposed sanctions and invasion will only make it worse.

There are other Iraqis in Britain who believe just as fervently that an invasion will liberate their country from the tyranny of Saddam Hussein.

More than a million people marched through London protesting against any war with Iraq.

However, many of them support UN sanctions and some would even reluctantly back an invasion if it had full UN backing.

The United Nations is an imperfect organisation but has been a powerful unifying force in the world for more than 50 years.

Action through the UN against Iraq, whether it be sanctions or the threat of military might, is the best way to deal with Saddam's monstrous regime rather than unilateral shows of force.

Of course Amer is worried about the effects of sanctions and the possibility of war for members of his family who are still in Iraq.

But inaction by the rest of the world is not an option. All that is necessary for evil like Saddam's to triumph is for good men and women to do nothing.