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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=586&e=1&cid=586&u=/nm/20021108/wl_nm/iraq_un_resolution_minister_dc BAGHDAD (Reuters) - An Iraqi minister said on Friday that a new U.N. resolution was not meant to verify Baghdad's possession of weapons of mass destruction but to provide a cover for the United States to carry out military action against Iraq. But Trade Minister Mohammad Mehdi Saleh refused to say whether Baghdad would accept the new resolution, which gives Iraq one last chance to disarm or face war and is expected to be adopted by the Security Council later on Friday. "The objective of any draft resolution will not be to verify the situation about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction but to provide some causes for the United States to attack Iraq," Saleh told reporters asking about Iraq's position on the resolution. "It is unfortunate that America and Britain have obstructed the return of U.N. weapons inspectors except with a new U.N. resolution that leads to a military aggression on Iraq under international cover," said Saleh, who spoke in English. "This resolution is not meant to verify that Iraq is clear of weapons of mass destruction because Iraq has no such weapons," he added. The resolution, put forward by Washington with British backing, threatens "serious consequences" if Iraq does not take a "final opportunity" to cooperate with U.N. inspectors looking for suspected chemical, biological and nuclear arms programs. Iraq had repeatedly said in the past that the U.S. draft, which has been amended over recent weeks in negotiations with other Security Council members who have sought to water it down, amounts to a declaration of war. Once the resolution is adopted, Iraq has seven days to accept its terms. ~ Anai Rhoads - - - - Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed _________________________________________________________________ MSN 8 helps eliminate e-mail viruses. Get 2 months FREE*. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus _______________________________________________ Sent via the discussion list of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq. To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-discuss To contact the list manager, email casi-discuss-admin@lists.casi.org.uk All postings are archived on CASI's website: http://www.casi.org.uk