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Thursday, 6 February, 2003, 13:18 GMT
Iraq under pressure to rebut allegations
![]() France has opposed early military action
Iraq is under intense pressure to respond to extensive United States allegations that it is defying United Nations demands to disarm.
The foreign minister of France - which has been reluctant to back US-led military action against Iraq - said on Thursday that Baghdad must "respond rapidly to the demands of the international community".
But the minister, Dominique de Villepin, said the time was "not yet right" for a Security Council resolution specifically authorising force. It was the clearest sign yet that the Council was not completely convinced by US Secretary of State Colin Powell's presentation of what he said was clear evidence Iraq was flouting UN resolutions.
Baghdad rejected Mr Powell's allegations, saying the goal was to sell the idea of war against Iraq, and said it would issue a detailed response later on Thursday. More time France - a veto-wielding member of the Security Council - said arms inspectors should be given more time. "As long as the arms inspections make progress, we must pursue them," Mr de Villepin told a French radio station. "There is a broad majority in the UN Security Council for inspections to be continued," he said.
"The message coming from the Security Council is very clear - that Iraq is not co-operating fully," Mohammed ElBaradei, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, told reporters. Hans Blix, the chief chemical and biological weapons inspector, listed three demands:
Warning Mr Powell warned a special session of the Security Council against any further delay in tackling what he called Iraq's chemical, biological and nuclear arms ambitions.
As Mr Powell presented his case to the UN, the Pentagon revealed that there are now more than 110,000 US troops in the Gulf. But the BBC's Justin Webb says Mr Powell is reported to be content to let the diplomatic process rest until Mr Blix reports back to the Security Council next week. The UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, is holding talks with Mr Blix on Thursday before the inspector heads back to Baghdad. Reactions
The Bush administration is claiming that some Council members expressed more support privately than they did in public, our correspondent says. In its first reaction to the presentation, Baghdad issued a blanket denial. Adviser to President Saddam Hussein, Amer al-Saadi, said alleged intercepts of conversations between Iraqi officials cited by Mr Powell were "manufactured". General al-Saadi dismissed other items contained in the US dossier, and said his government would issue a fuller rebuttal on Thursday. In his presentation to the Security Council Mr Powell said that Iraq:
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06 Feb 03 | Middle East
06 Feb 03 | Middle East
05 Feb 03 | Americas
04 Feb 03 | Middle East
05 Feb 03 | Middle East
06 Feb 03 | Europe
06 Feb 03 | Media reports
06 Feb 03 | Middle East
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