Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz said yesterday Baghdad had thwarted any justification for a US-led military attack by allowing the unconditional return of UN arms inspectors.
Aziz, addressing a conference in Baghdad, said that Iraq was ready to work out a plan with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan for the return of weapons inspectors after an absence of nearly four years.
"All the reasons for an attack have been eliminated," he said during the opening of a solidarity conference attended by sympathizers from various parts of the world.
"Yes, we agree on the return of weapons inspectors and we are ready to work with the secretary-general in order to put this decision into effect," he added.
Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, under intense international diplomatic pressure backed by the threat of US military action, agreed late on Monday to readmit UN weapons inspectors without conditions after an absence of nearly four years.
UN arms experts, in charge of destroying Iraq's prohibited weapons under UN resolutions, left Baghdad on the eve of a US-British bombing campaign launched in December 1998 over Baghdad's alleged failure to cooperate with the inspections.
"If the inspectors come and act honestly, professionally in order to check the truth, let them reach the truth within a reasonable period," Aziz told reporters later.
"But if the Americans were using this matter as a pretext, they might use other pretexts in order to commit their aggression against Iraq."
Aziz urged France, Russia and China, all permanent members of the UN Security Council, and Annan to check the performance of any future inspectors.
"When the inspectors do not act honestly and professionally, [Russia France and China] should tell them `you have to behave yourself and act according to what the Security Council wants and not what the United States and Britain want.'"
The Iraqi move has drawn a hostile response from Washington which insists there is still a need for a Security Council resolution requiring Iraq to destroy its weapons of mass destruction.
Aziz said the skeptical US and British reaction to Baghdad's decision to readmit the inspectors had revealed their "true intentions towards Baghdad."
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