"The results to date have been consistent with Iraqi declarations" that it possesses no weapons of mass destruction, Hans Blix, chairman of the U.N. Monitoring, Verification and Inspections Commission, told the 15-nation Security Council.
Secretary of State Colin Powell acknowledged that access granted by Iraq to its weapons sites has been good, but he concluded it still hasn't accounted for chemical and biological weapons.
"What we need is not more inspections, what we need is immediate, active, unconditional, full cooperation on the part of Iraq," Powell said. "What we need is for Iraq to disarm."
Powell said Iraq remains in violation of provisions of U.N. Resolution 1441. Passed last fall, it calls for disarmament by the country.
Blix's speech covered familiar ground with Iraq, and it's unclear how it will affect U.S. preparations for a possible war.
"Blix's 'something for everybody' report assures only one result: more confusion for Wall Street," Tony Dwyer, chief market strategist with Kirlin Securities, told.
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Friday February 14, 4:17 pm ET |
