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Look out for newspaper reports of this story and get scribbling! UK people: Seems to me a good time to bring up the Depleted Uranium angle too. Cheers, Glenn >From the BBC on-line News page http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/middle_east/newsid_593000/593012.stm Thursday, 6 January, 2000, 12:36 GMT Saddam: Sanctions crumbling Iraq says sanctions are hurting children Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has said sanctions on Baghdad are crumbling away. But in a speech marking the 79th anniversary of the Iraqi armed forces, President Saddam told his people not to expect the United Nations to lift the trade embargoes imposed 10 years ago. “The stage of embargo corrosion has actually started”, Saddam Hussein The Iraqi leader said Baghdad would continue to defy what he termed "powers of evil" - a clear reference to the West. However, he made no clear mention of last month's UN resolution which could ease the embargoes. Baghdad has rejected the resolution which would require it co-operate with a new UN disarmament agency. Corrosion "We have said with certainty that the embargo will not be lifted by a Security Council resolution but will corrode by itself," President Saddam declared in his address broadcast live by state television. "The stage of embargo corrosion is no longer something which we predict or wait for. It has actually started." Saddam Hussein accused unnamed countries of treachery However, the Iraqi leader did not explain how the nine-year-old sanctions were eroding. Iraq has to comply with a host of UN resolutions, notably those related to the dismantling of its weapons of mass destruction, before the embargoes can be removed. Treachery In his speech, President Saddam lashed out at states he did not name, but clearly intended to refer to the United States and Britain, accusing them of prolonging the sanctions. "We should not expect the powers of evil and vice to fulfil a pledge or keep a promise,'' he said. Iraq is allowed to export oil for food ''They have no other characteristics but treachery, aggression, breaking promises, cancelling covenants and doing everything that is vile and injurious." In December 1998, Washington and London launched four days of air attacks against Iraq after Baghdad failed to co-operate with UN weapons inspectors. China visit Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister, Tareq Aziz, arrived on Thursday in China, which like France and Russia advocates an early lifting of sanctions against Baghdad. He is to meet government leaders to explain Baghdad's position on the UN resolution. The sanctions against Iraq include a ban on oil exports, but a UN deal allows Baghdad to sell some oil in order to buy food and medicines. President Saddam's 25-minute speech heaped praise on the Iraqi Army and Arab nations. Unlike previous speeches, there were no bitter remarks against Arab foes, particularly Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. But he accused some Arab leaders of being weak and treacherous. -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This is a discussion list run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq For removal from list, email soc-casi-discuss-request@lists.cam.ac.uk Full archive and list instructions are available from the CASI website: http://welcome.to/casi