|
Talking Point
|
Feedback
|
Text Only
|
Help
|
Site Map
|
White House officials interrupted their Thanksgiving holiday to remind Iraq that Unscom must be permitted to do its job and have unconditional and unfettered access.
This statement stands in stark contrast to the Iraqi Foreign Minister, Mohammed Saeed Al-Sahhaf's declaration that all sovereign sites, such as presidential palaces, would be barred to what he called any infringement by Unscom despite an earlier invitation to UN officials to enter the palaces.
The invitation, originally issued on Wednesday after a meeting chaired by President Saddam, said UN representatives could spend up to a month in the palaces.
But it avoided directly mentioning the weapons inspectors, whose expulsion triggered the recent stand-off in the Gulf.
![[ image: width=154]](/olmedia/images/_35243_women_150.jpg)
The Unscom teams have said they suspect President Saddam is storing chemical and biological weapons inside his many palaces.
Asked if Baghdad would consider permitting Unscom inspectors to join the palatial visits, Mr Al-Sahhaf said: "Not at all."
"They are persons selected by their governments voluntarily to see facts and they would not be with any relation to the Special Commission," he said.
His remarks are likely to fuel scepticism amongst UN members about Iraq's motives for Wednesday's statement.
The terse, official response from the White House was to repeat its demand that Unscom be allowed to work without restrictions.
"As we have said before, and as the (UN) Security Council has said unambiguously and unanimously through its resolutions, the Unscom inspectors must be permitted to do their jobs and must have unconditional and unfettered access," a senior White House official said.
A compromise on the issue of palace inspections remains the key deal necessary for a final end to the Middle East dispute.
Iraq's refusal to allow inspectors into its palaces preceded its expulsion of American inspectors on November 13. The other members of the Unscom team left voluntarily the next day.
![[ image: width=154]](/olmedia/images/_35243_protestors_150.jpg)
The United States, which has built up a significant air and missile assault capability in the Persian Gulf during the fall-out, insists Iraq does have prohibited weapons.
The US Defense Secretary, William Cohen, said this week that between 20 and 200 tons of the nerve killer VX, plus 6,000 gallons of anthrax, are stored in the country
Oil-for-food deal could rise to $3bn
The UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, is considering increasing the amount of oil Iraq can sell to buy humanitarian supplies to $3bn (£1.8bn) in six months, UN diplomats said.
This would represent a 50% increase on the existing limit imposed a year ago.
The proposal could face opposition from the United States.
Iraqi children starving under sanctions
Iraq sets deadline for UN team
Iraq Net
Iraq Foundation
Iraq National Congress
United Nations
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
India's coalition government shattered
Forest fires threaten Australia again
Septuplets make healthy progress
Czech government falls apart
'Key evidence' in Oklahoma bombing trial
Gunfire in Kinshasa
Court rules Irish teenager can have abortion
Pakistani government apologises for court commotion
Cook promises to end mystery of Nazi gold
Police defend decision not to prosecute Winnie
The testimony against Winnie
(From Special Report)
'Mother of the Nation'?
(From Special Report)
Belgium bans all tobacco ads from 1999
Blair commits troops to Bosnia
Arab-Israeli partition: a Middle East milestone
UN Palestine partition plan
`Thousands of civilians killed' in Rwanda
Saudis push for rise in oil production
(From Business)
Israeli construction projects given the go-ahead
Bootleg booze proves fatal for Russians
Off your trolley! - it's no shop day
|
Talking Point
|
Feedback
|
Text Only
|
Help
|
Site Map
|