ANTOINETTE McCORMICK told today how she has been thwarted in a renewed bid to become a human shield in Baghdad.

The 38-year-old daughter of York couple John and Mairi McCormick had been hoping to travel this week from her present base in Amman, Jordan, to the Iraqi capital, where she wanted to help avert American and British bombing missions.

She had changed her mind after deciding recently to abandon her mission, fearing she might "become a liability" to other human shields.

But she has now said in an email to the Evening Press that no more volunteers were going through to Iraq following an ultimatum from their host group Friendship, Peace, and Solidarity - "which, naturally, in a police state has links to the ruling party".

Antoinette, who was financed in her human shield bid by York Quakers, said the shields either had to accept the host group's terms and deploy to sites determined by the group, such as oil, water or electricity installations, or leave. "We wanted to go to hospitals."

At least 70 had left and a moratorium had been placed on all new shield processing in Jordan.

She said she was working "like a fiend" in the Amman office "co-ordinating, trying to help those who have returned, writing, meeting, answering press calls, and also giving what money I have to emergency funds".

Antonoinette said: "These people who have returned have done their part - they are brave, the most beautiful people in heart I've ever met, but not the most organised.

"Personally, I am convinced that we have done a great thing. We have not failed."

She said her failure to go was nothing to do with recent warnings by American military leaders that the shields would not stop the bombs and could be killed.

She said she remained willing to return funds if necessary to the Quakers.

"I apologise that I could not make good my promise to go into Baghdad - truly I wish I could. If things change and I can go in, I will."

Updated: 10:12 Wednesday, March 05, 2003