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Iraq Agrees to Readmit Inspectors, U.N. Says
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/16/international/16WIRE-NATI.html?pagewanted=
print&position=top
September 16, 2002
Iraq Agrees to Readmit Inspectors, U.N. Says
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NITED NATIONS -- Iraq unconditionally accepted the return of U.N.
weapons
inspectors late Monday, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said.
"I can confirm to you that I have received a letter from the Iraqi
authorities conveying its decision to allow the return of inspectors
without conditions to continue their work."
"There is good news," Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri said moments
earlier.
Sabri and Arab League chief Amr Moussa met late with Annan and
transmitted
a letter from the Iraqi government on the inspectors' return.
Under Security Council resolutions, sanctions imposed on Iraq after
its
1990 invasion of Kuwait cannot be lifted until U.N. inspectors certify
that its weapons of mass destruction have been destroyed. Inspectors
left
the country four years ago ahead of U.S. and British airstrikes to
punish
Iraq for not cooperating with inspections.
Since then, Iraq has refused to allow inspectors to return, and the
stalemate had split the United States, Britain, Russian, France and
China
-- the five powerful members of the U.N. Security Council,
The turnabout in Iraq, after four years of stalemate, came days after
President Bush addressed the U.N. General Assembly debate and said
that
Iraq must comply with Security Council resolutions or face the
consequences.
Annan credited Bush late Monday.
"I believe the president's speech galvanized the international
community,"
Annan said.
There was no immediate response from the White House. Top Bush aides
huddled after Annan's announcement, preparing a response.
Annan said the Arab league had played a key role in bringing about the
Iraqi response.
Annan thanked the league's chief, Amr Moussa of Egypt, "for his
strenouous
efforts in helping to convince Iraq to allow the return of the
inspectors."
Copyright 2002
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