Soviet Muslims Criticize U.S. War Moves

Muslims leaving midday prayers Friday at the only mosque in Moscow criticized the United States for waging war against Iraq but differed over whether Saddam Hussein was in the right.

All agreed, however, that Israel is the real enemy.

“Saddam Hussein is not right. He shouldn’t have invaded Kuwait,” said Khalid Mustafa. “He should have invaded Israel--and demolished Israel.”

Mustafa, 70, was one of more than 650 men who jammed the mosque. The Soviet Union has more than 50 million Muslims, most of whom live in the poverty-stricken Central Asian republics.

Mustafa and others said Iraq will suffer “a great defeat” because of the coalition assembled to drive it from Kuwait.

“Saddam Hussein is alone. What can he do?” said a 32-year-old worker at the mosque who refused to give his name. “His air force has been demolished.”

All those questioned said the United States had no business interfering in the Persian Gulf.

“America is doing this mostly because of the oil,” Mustafa said. “If it was not for the oil, America would spit on Saudi Arabia.”

Many expressed sorrow that Muslims were killing Muslims.

“It’s very bad that Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries fight each other,” said the mosque worker. “Both sides are bleeding, and Allah will punish them anyway.”