The Iraqis in New Delhi are glued to the Arabic television networks beaming the images of United States attack on Iraqi cities.

Apprehensive eyes scan every image of Baghdad and every word uttered by suave newsreaders and reporters are being lapped out. The air is tense, ashtrays full of cigarette butts and impatient hands switch channels every minute.

But none of the 150-odd Iraqi citizens in India at the moment are leaving for Iraq. "We have our duties to do here. Though many of us want to return to Iraq and fight, yet we have to stay. Put yourself in our shoes and you will understand our position," an Iraqi diplomat said.

Television cameras capture the images of the Iraqi embassy in the Vasant Vihar locality, while Charge d'Affairs Aaaday Alsarab is busy answering the questions. A middle-aged man, he is worried and tense. He disagrees with analysts view that Iraq cannot offer much resistance to the US forces.

"We were expecting the war and we have been preparing to face it. Iraq has defended itself from the American aggression in 1991, 1993, 1996 and 1998. We will defend our homeland again," Alsarab said.

The lack of international support for the American attack, its failure to get the United Nations to back the attack and the vocal criticisms from France and other European nations is boosting the Iraqi diplomat's morale slightly.

"We are satisfied with the European stance and thank those honest people who raised the anti-war protests. Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's statement that nobody can bring about a regime change anywhere was heartening, he added.

Like many others he believes that the American decision to go ahead with the attack on Iraq stems from arrogance and a disregard for international community's opinion.

But despite American bombers hovering over Iraqi cities, the Iraqi envoy is going to continue his efforts for a bolder anti-war stance by India. "We will ask our Indian friends to develop a stronger stand on the issue and support the Iraqi cause. Though, it is enough that we hear a 'no to war' from them," he added.

Expressing satisfaction with the arrangements made by the Indian government for the Iraqi establishments in India, he added that the Iraqi embassy will continue working and so would the Iraqi school in Delhi continue functioning.