Search the Internet          Tips

Iraq does a volte face, invites UN arms expert for 'review'

Mounting threat of an American military strike is forcing Iraq to invite the United Nations chief weapons inspector to visit Baghdad at the 'earliest agreed upon time' to discuss the return of the arms inspectors who have been kept out of the country for the last four years.

In a letter to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Thursday, Foreign Minister Naji Sabri sought a visit to Baghdad by chief weapons inspector Hans Blix and UN arms experts to 'review' the country's compliance with the Security Council's resolution on elimination of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.

"We believe that this review will be an important step towards the appropriate legal and technical assessment and treatment of the issue of disarmament and to establish a solid base for the next stage of monitoring and inspection activities," the letter said.

UN officials were cautiously optimistic about the Iraqi initiative, especially since it comes amid increasing pressure from the United States for the ouster of President Saddam Hussein and with US media organisations abuzz with various options open to American military planners.

Blix, executive director of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission, maintained at failed talks in Vienna recently that unless inspectors were allowed to have a fresh look, a 'comprehensive review' cannot be undertaken.

The inspectors were withdrawn in 1998, ahead of American and British air strikes following a report on Iraq's non-cooperation by the erstwhile UN chief weapons inspector, Richard Butler. Baghdad has since not allowed the inspectors back.

PTI

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report