Blair: Iraq Must Be Forced to Disclose Military Potential

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, September 09, 2002

Blair: Iraq Must Be Forced to Disclose Military Potential

British Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Saturday that Iraq should be "forced to disclose" what it has been doing to rebuild its military potential in recent years.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

British Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Saturday that Iraq should be "forced to disclose" what it has been doing to rebuild its military potential in recent years.

"We haven't the faintest idea of what has been going on for the last four years other than what we know is an attempt to carry on rebuilding these weapons but the details of it is something that the Iraqi regime should be forced to disclose," Blair told reporters on board his special plane flying from London to Washington, where he is to hold talks with US President George W. Bush on Iraq.

It was "essential ... that there is a proper regime in place for monitoring inspections" of Iraq's military, as the threat from the country was very real, said Blair, so far Bush's closest and only ally in trying to promote a military strike against Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

Earlier, The British prime minister said, in an interview to BBC, that Britain was ready to pay "blood price" for its close relations with the United States to take action against Baghdad.

Blair's office in Downing Street has denied that Blair and Bushwill be holding a "war council," but the two men are widely expected to discuss a strategy to persuade other world leaders, notably via the United Nations, of the need for military action.

"The longer you go on without a proper regime of inspection in place, the greater that (military) capability is," said Blair earlier Saturday.

Blair's visit to Washington comes at a sensitive time, only days before the first anniversary of the terror attacks on New York and Washington last September 11.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Russian Ministers Urge Return of U.N. Inspectors to Iraq

US, British Leaders Hold Consultation on Iraq

German, French Leaders Reject Unilateral Action Against Iraq

>> Full Coverage

Japanese Court Dismisses Germ Warfare Victims' Damages Claim ( 94 Messages)

China Plans to Stop the Overeas Flight of Corrupt Officials ( 69 Messages)

China Blocks the Way of Corrupt Officials Fleeing Overseas ( 5 Messages)

Survey Discloses Bad Service of Domestic Banks ( 4 Messages)

Quantitative Study Uncovers US Media Blackout: China Youth Daily ( 25 Messages)