Iraq: Ready to co-operate?

The Arab League meeting at their Cairo headquarters

The Arab League Ambassador to the United Nations has said that Iraq has accepted that they will have to co-operate with UN weapons inspectors to prevent a war.

The UN is still waiting for a response from the Iraqi government to its resolution that weapons inspectors will be allowed to return to the country.

Click here to watch the full interview

On Tuesday, the Iraqi parliament voted unanimously to reject the resolution.

the Iraqis have already expressed their willingness to accept the inspectors

Yahya Mahmassani

But the final decision lies with the Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein, who has until Friday to accept the demand.

Yahya Mahmassani said: "I think the Iraqis have already expressed their willingness to accept the inspectors and give them their fullest co-operation.

"What is on the table now is to prevent war, war is not imminent and should not be imminent. It should not be even an option."

And he added that war in Iraq would have devastating consequences for the whole area.

He said: "It's a big mistake to go to war. War will bring so much destruction, death and violence. It will destabilise the whole region."

Respresentatives

Although Iraq will have no say in the make-up of the UN inspection teams, Uday Hussein, the eldest son of Saddam, has called for Arab experts to be included.

Why not include Arab scientists... who are qualified to join the team

Yahya Mahmassani

Mr Mahmassani told HARDtalk that as more than 40 nations will be part of the team, Arab countries should be represented.

He said: "Why not include Arab scientists, Arab experts, who are capable, who are qualified to join the team."

"It is only fair since there are so many countries, that Arabs should be included in the team and should play their role in accordance with the team's regulations."

This interview can also be watched in full on Wednesday 13 November on BBC World and BBC News 24 at the following times:

BBC News 24 (times shown in GMT) 0430, repeated 2230

BBC World (times shown in GMT) 0330, repeated 1130, 1530, 1830, 2330