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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, November 30, 2001

Powell Rebuffs Talk of U.S. Military Actions Against Iraq

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell on Thursday rebuffed talk that Iraq may be the next target of U.S. military actions in the ongoing war against terrorism.


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U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell on Thursday rebuffed talk that Iraq may be the next target of U.S. military actions in the ongoing war against terrorism.

"I don't know what people think is about to happen," the secretary told reporters at the State Department.

He said that there is no particular substance in such suggestion out of the media that the United States is going to take actions against Iraq.

U.S. President George W. Bush warned Sunday that Iraq must allow U.N. weapons inspector back to the country to show that it is not developing or hiding weapons of mass destruction and otherwise it will face consequences.

He also went further to include those who develop weapons of mass destruction to terrorize other nations in the possible targets in the war against terrorism.

Bush's remarks were widely interpreted as attempts to pave the way for future military actions against Iraq which fought a war with U.S.-led forces due to the Gulf crisis a decade ago.

U.S. Republican hawks, who urge the Bush administration to get tougher on Iraq, have been criticizing Powell for his moderate approach in foreign affairs, including the Iraqi issue.

Powell, among others, has reportedly worried that any military action against Iraq may jeopardize the international coalition against terrorism.




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