Religious leaders addressed Congress

Religious leaders from the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council addressed Congress on their objections to any military action.

Among them was the Reverend Alan MacDonald, the convener of the Church of Scotland's Church and Nation Committee.

Speaking beforehand, Rev MacDonald said he hoped to be able to persuade Congress members to settle the crisis by diplomatic means.

And he believes opinion is not as clear cut in the US as some people may think.

There's much more of an opposition here and it seems to be growing Rev Alan MacDonald

"What we'll be saying on Capitol Hill is backing the line that the National Council of Churches here in the United States are putting to members of Congress," he said.

"It is the same line we have been adopting, which is to stress again and again the importance of international law in solving conflict and to stress the UN is the place to sort this out."

He also believes there may be some support for his message within the Congress itself.

"In meetings I've been having here I've been astonished by the number of people who say that they are against the war and the number of people who point to members of congress who are against the war," said Rev MacDonald.

"Despite the impression we sometimes get in the UK, there's much more of an opposition here and it seems to be growing."