Iraq Reiterates Rejection of UN Arms Inspections

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, March 10, 2002

Iraq Reiterates Rejection of UN Arms Inspections

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Iraqi Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan on Saturday reiterated refusal of the United Nations arms inspections, but voiced readiness for a fruitful dialog with the world's leading body, the state-run Iraq TV reported.

"The mission of destroying Iraq's weapons of mass destruction has already been finished," Ramadan said, accusing the United States of trying to exploit the arms inspections issue to cook up an excuse and attack Iraq.

Ramadan made the remarks during the opening session of the Arab Popular Forces held in Baghdad to show solidarity with Iraq and Palestine.

Ramadan urged to implement U.N. Security Council Resolution 687 and rid the Mideast region, especially Israel, of weapons of mass destruction.

However, Ramadan pledged dialog with the U.N. and hoped that it will yield "beneficial" results, the TV report said.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri Ahmed wrapped up his one-day " positive" dialog with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Thursday, and the two sides agreed to hold another round of talks in mid-April.

During Thursday's talks, Annan pressed the Iraqi side to accept the return of the arms inspectors after an absence of over three years.

The arms inspectors withdrew out of Iraq on the eve of the U.S.- British air strike in December 1998 and have not been allowed back since then.

U.S. President George W. Bush has recently demanded the Iraqi regime to allow the arms inspectors back or face the possibility of fresh U.S. military attacks.

In the face of the U.S. threats, Iraq has launched a diplomatic drive and offered to have "an open and unconditional" dialog with the U.N., but still remains adamant on the refusal of the resumption of arms inspections.

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