Iraq Only One to Two Years Away from Nuclear Weapons: Britain

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, September 24, 2002

Iraq Only One to Two Years Away from Nuclear Weapons: Britain

Britain on Tuesday unveiled a long-awaited dossier of evidence against Iraqi President Saddam Hussein,accusing Iraq of posing a danger to the stability of the Middle East and the world.

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Britain on Tuesday unveiled a long-awaited dossier of evidence against Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, accusing Iraq of posing a danger to the stability of the Middle East and the world.

The 55-page document about the threat posed by Iraq's alleged weapons programs claimed that Iraq was only one to two years away from producing nuclear weapons.

Iraq tried to acquire from Africa material and technology for the production of nuclear weapons, the dossier said.

It also claimed that Iraq is continuing to produce chemical and biological weapons and has plans to use them.

Iraq had learned how to conceal equipment and documentation from weapons inspectors and would be able to hide its weapons program even if the United Nations sends in new inspectors, said the document, which was posted on Britain's government websites from 0700 GMT.

Prime Minister Tony Blair hoped that the evidence in the dossier will convince skeptics of the need to take action, ahead of an emergency sitting of the British Parliament to discuss the crisis.

Writing in the foreword, Blair said it "is unprecedented for the government to publish this kind of document."

"But in the light of the debate about Iraq and weapons of mass destruction I wanted to share with the British public the reasons why I believe this issue to be a current and serious threat to the UK national interest," he said.

Blair said he has become "increasingly alarmed" in recent months by the evidence from inside Iraq that ... "Saddam Hussein is continuing to develop WMD, and with them the ability to inflict real damage upon the region and the stability of the world."

The prime minister also claimed that, despite sanctions, the "policy of containment" employed toward Iraq has not worked and the picture presented by intelligence chiefs in recent months has "become more not less worrying."

The British Parliament is scheduled to begin its emergency recall Tuesday morning at 1030 GMT, with backbench Labor rebels planning to force a vote later in the day to voice their opposition to a possible war against Iraq.

Blair, US President George Bush's closest ally on possible war against Iraq, is facing serious rebellion in his government and in the parliament.

Dozens of Labor backbenchers in the House of Commons plan to voice their opposition to possible military action by forcing a technical vote.

Cabinet ministers, such as Commons Leader Robin Cook, Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett and International Development Secretary Clare Short were thought to have grave concerns about possible armed action against Iraq.

Facing such opposition, Blair released the dossier, clearly trying to convince the public and politicians that Iraq should be dealt with seriously and he is right to support the Americans.

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