Saddam intends to break deal, says UN official
By Hugo Gurdon in Washington (Guardian)
A SENIOR United Nations weapons inspector has given warning that Saddam
Hussein intends to break his word and again block the search-and-destroy
mission against Iraq's chemical and biological weapons.
Less than two months after Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary-General, struck
a deal in Baghdad and was hailed for averting war, Charles Duelfer,
deputy head of the UN Special Commission (Unscom), said Iraqi officials
plan once more to ban access to "presidential palaces". This opens the
prospect of a third stand-off and escalation towards military conflict,
with the dictator securing extra months to develop and hide weapons of
mass destruction.
Critics of Mr Annan's diplomacy, including Trent Lott, the US Senate
majority leader, denounced the February deal as "appeasement", and even
Bill Richardson, US ambassador to the UN, opposed Mr Annan's mission. He
was overruled by Madeleine Albright, the Secretary of State. If Mr
Duelfer's conclusions are borne out, those who accused the international
community of a sell-out to Saddam will be proved right.
In a report to the Security Council, Mr Duelfer said he was told by Gen
Amir Mohammed Rashid, head of the Iraqi arms negotiating team, that
palace inspections were not part of an indefinite process but would be
available for perhaps only a single, brief follow-up inspection and then
put off limits.
Gen Rashid's rebuff came after Mr Duelfer sought written agreement that
sites would not be tampered with without at least 24 hours' notice. The
general said this would compromise the Iraqi stance, which was that
inspections were "a finite process". Mr Duelfer told the New York Times:
"It is quite clear that there is a difference in view here, and I
reflected that in this report. This issue will ultimately have to be
addressed by the Security Council."
When Mr Annan was in Baghdad, he rejected as a "deal breaker" Iraq's
suggestion that all palace inspections should be finished within 60
days, but now Gen Rashid appears to be reinstating the arbitrary time
limit.
Four RAF Tornado bombers flew to Kuwait yesterday to maintain Britain's
military presence as international arms inspectors continued to test the
agreement negotiated with Saddam Hussein. The aircraft from 14 Squadron
joined a British detachment about 30 miles west of Kuwait city. |
