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This was not what I expected, however if it were true, quite depressing. http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1035873192646 Iraq blasts US 'ill intentions' over resolution BAGHDAD (Reuters) - 11 Nov 2002 17:55 A key Iraqi parliamentary official has recommended parliament should reject a new U.N. resolution on disarmament and the leader of the assembly blasted the text as a "a preamble for war". The two men were speaking on Monday at the start of an emergency session of the Iraqi parliament convened by President Saddam Hussein to debate the resolution calling on Baghdad to disarm or face possible military action. But the final decision on the resolution passed unanimously last week by the U.N. Security Council will lie with the Revolutionary Command Council, Iraq's highest authority which is led by Saddam. U.S. President George W. Bush warned Baghdad he would use the full might of the U.S. military against Iraq if it did not comply with the resolution which gives U.N. arms inspectors sweeping new rights and Iraq 30 days to submit a detailed list of its weapons. In Baghdad, Salim al-Kubaisi, head of parliament's Arab and international relations committee, told the assembly: "The committee recommends the following: the rejection of the Security Council resolution 1441 and not to approve it in accordance with the opinion of our people who put confidence in their representatives," Kubaisi said. He delivered his comments after Iraq's parliamentary speaker Saadoun Hammadi opened the session, blasting the resolution as a violation of international law and Iraq's sovereignty. "This U.N. resolution looks for a pretext (for war) and not for a comprehensive solution. It seeks to create crises rather than cooperation and paves the way for aggression rather than for peace," he said. "It shows blatantly the ill intentions of the U.S. administration," he added. The parliamentary debate continued and it was not clear when it would take a vote. JUST ONE FALSE STEP The United States has warned Iraq one false step would result in military action. "I have no greater responsibility than protecting the American people. Should military action become necessary for our own security, I will commit the full force and might of the United States military, and we will prevail," Bush said at a White House ceremony, marking U.S. Veterans' Day. Bush said a new regime "would bring deliverance" for Iraq's citizens. Iraq has until Friday to accept the terms of a Security Council resolution demanding Baghdad allow U.N. arms experts unhindered access to any site suspected of producing chemical, biological or nuclear weapons or face "serious consequences". In a front-page editorial, the ruling Baath party newspaper al-Thawra said the United States and its ally Britain had inserted "vague, vicious and misleading texts that give them room for manoeuvre to use them as pretext to attack". Nevertheless, Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa said on Monday he thought Iraq would "cooperate positively" with the new resolution. The U.S. military said American and British warplanes bombed anti-aircraft missile sites on Sunday in the "no-fly zone" enforced by Washington and London in southern Iraq -- the first such action since the Friday resolution was passed. Iraq did not report any Western attack but said its anti-aircraft systems had fired at U.S. and British warplanes over the south of the country on Saturday. Disarmament inspections first started after Iraqi forces were expelled from neighbouring Kuwait by a U.S.-led coalition in the 1991 Gulf War. Inspectors withdrew in 1998 in a wrangle over access to Saddam's palaces. The resolution gives the Council a key role before any possible attack, but does not force Washington to seek authorisation for war. U.S. national security adviser Condoleezza Rice said Bush reserved the right to use force without Security Council approval if Iraq violated the resolution. But Washington would initially discuss with the Council the consequences of a breach. U.S. officials said Bush had approved plans for the invasion of Iraq if it failed to comply fully with the resolution. The plan, based on the lessons learned during the Afghan conflict, calls for the quick capture of Iraqi territory to establish forward bases that would be used to propel 200,000 or more troops deeper into the country. HOPES FOR COMPLIANCE Russia, which with France and China fought for amendments to an original U.S. draft resolution, said it hoped Iraq would comply, saying it was a chance to avoid military action. "If Iraq cooperates, there will be inspections, and while Iraq works with the United Nations there will be no military action," Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Fedotov was quoted by RIA news agency as saying. German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said he hoped a military showdown could be averted by "strict compliance with the Security Council resolution by the regime in Baghdad". Germany has said it would not participate in an attack on Iraq. Arab foreign ministers endorsed the resolution on Sunday but also called on Security Council members to ensure it could not be used as an automatic trigger for war. Chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix is due in Cyprus this week where his team will have a base, before heading for Iraq, a Cyprus government source said. An advance team of about a dozen inspectors is expected to head for Baghdad around November 25 to make spot inspections. Between 80 and 100 inspectors are due to resume their work in full by December 23. ・Reuters Limited Click for restrictions __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! BB is Broadband by Yahoo! http://bb.yahoo.co.jp/ _______________________________________________ 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