US/IRAQ: The UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, has warned that any attack on Iraq would be "unwise" given the current circumstances in the Middle East.Mr Annan's remarks yesterday came as he prepared for the monthly lunch marking the change in the Security Council's presidency.
Among topics of discussion were likely to be a letter from Baghdad inviting both UN weapons inspectors and US legislators to investigate whether Iraq was still producing weapons of mass destruction. The chief UN weapons inspector, Mr Hans Blix, rejected the invitation outright on Sunday and the White House said yesterday there was "no need" for discussions.
Mr Annan said he would consider talks between Iraq and Mr Blix if Baghdad honoured UN requirements about how the inspectors would operate.
Faced with US threats against President Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi Foreign Minister, Mr Naji Sabri, in a letter to Mr Annan, also hinted at a return of the inspectors, who have not been in Iraq since December 1998.
Although welcoming the letter, Mr Annan told reporters, "but of course we have very clear requirements and if Iraq were to honour them, I think the invitation can be considered". Mr Sabri insisted Mr Blix go to Baghdad to review all pending issues on Iraq's dangerous weapons, the key to suspending UN sanctions imposed when Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990.
Mr Blix however has said repeatedly that a 1999 Security Council resolution prevented him from analysing arms data until the inspectors are back on the ground to determine what happened since they left in December 1998, on the eve of a US-British bombing raid. They have not been allowed to return since.
Mr Annan said if Mr Blix and his team did go to Baghdad they would "have a specific programme which may not entirely coincide with what the Iraqis have in mind. But if they \ were to agree to the position that Mr Blix had laid out for them, in accordance with the UN resolutions, we may be closer."
Meanwhile, thousands of Iraqis burning American flags marched in the streets of Baghdad yesterday to denounce US threats to topple President Saddam.
President Bush vowed last month to use all means available to bring down Saddam, who the United States says is developing weapons of mass destruction.