MPs, senior politicians and community leaders today expressed their sadness at the outbreak of war and urged people in Bradford to stay calm.

Former Bradford parliamentary candidate Mohammed Riaz who is advisor to Iain Duncan-Smith on ethnic affairs said: "It is very regrettable that action has to be exercised and I hope other powers in the world will try to intervene and stop it as quickly as possible. It will result in the killing of hundreds of thousands innocent Iraqis and I hope Saddam Hussein takes the option of going into exile."

He stressed it was important for people in Bradford to realise that it was not a war against Islam.

Bradford North Labour MP Terry Rooney said he hoped the war would be swift to allow the liberation of Iraqi people to take place.

"I hope people will keep cool in Bradford. It is time for everybody to work together."

Ann Cryer Labour MP for Keighley said she hoped racists would hold their tongues and not try to capitalise on the multicultural district.

"I hope and pray there will be communal unity" She said. she would help anyone concerned about relatives serving in Iraq could contact her for help on (020) 7219 4838.

Senior Liberal Democrat Councillor David Ward said there was nothing anything anybody could do stop military action but people in Bradford should unit to get through the very difficult situation.

Mohammed Ajeeb, formerly Britain and Bradford's first Asian Lord Mayor said: "I pray for the civilian casualties and hope it will be over as soon as possible. We don't need to bring that war to Bradford."

Mr Ajeeb, chairman of Bradford Primary Care Trust said small businesses on the outskirts of the city had already been in touch saying they had experienced hostility.

"But we are able to express our views in a democratic way," he added.

Iraq War latest from our US bureau