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Iraqi Weapon Claims CondemnedMon, February 24, 2003Source: Ananova NewsChief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix says Iraq's claims it has no weapons of mass destruction is not credibleChief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix says Iraq's claims it has no weapons of mass destruction is not credible and "diplomacy may need to be backed up by force." Mr Blix has expressed scepticism over Iraq's claims to have destroyed the stocks of anthrax and VX nerve agent. He has told Time magazine that he found it "a bit odd" that Baghdad, with "one of the best-organised regimes in the Arab world" would claim to have no records of the substances' destruction. "I don't see that they have acquired any credibility," he said. "There has to be solid evidence of everything, and if there is not evidence, or you can't find it, I simply say, 'Sorry, I don't find any evidence', and I cannot guarantee or recommend any confidence," he said. Lieutenant General Hossam Mohamed Amin gave Iraq's first official comment on Mr Blix's order that it must dismantle its Al Samoud 2 missile programme. Iraq's response will likely be a key factor in determining how the UN Security Council votes on a resolution the US is expected to introduce early next week designed to win approval for an attack on Iraq. "We are serious about solving this," Mr Amin told journalists. He said the order was being studied, "and we hope it will be resolved peacefully, without the interference of others, particularly the Americans." UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said he did not expect Baghdad to resist the order. |
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