- Tariq Aziz, Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister, gave his clearest
warning yet yesterday that Baghdad would launch strikes against Israel
if it was attacked by Britain and America.
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- Mr Aziz's threat came as he repeated his government's
denial that it was developing weapons of mass destruction and said full
access would be given to UN weapons inspectors.
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- His remarks followed a prediction by Jack Straw, the
Foreign Secretary, that Saddam Hussein would be "making the mistake
of his life" if he failed to comply with the latest UN resolution
on disarmament. Interviewed on ITV1's Jonathan Dimbleby programme, Mr Aziz
said that any military action against Iraq would endanger not just Britain
and America but also their allies such as Israel.
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- Asked what the Iraqi strategy might be if, as suspected,
it is militarily weaker than it was in the 1991 Gulf War, Mr Aziz replied
that his government was "capable of defending our nation". He
added: "We are an old nation and we could survive. But I tell you,
if the US and UK wage a war against Iraq, the consequences will be very
bad to them and their friends in the region.
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- "If they don't care about their friends, then that
gives you an idea about their real intentions. This is going to be devastating,
not only to Iraq, but to them also. The aggressors will also suffer a great
deal of losses."
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- Mr Aziz said he was not convinced the return of weapons
inspectors would save Iraq from attack. "I have to be objective and
honest in saying that we in Iraq do not feel that the possibility of the
American aggression on Iraq has been totally removed," he said.
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- He said that since the UN weapons inspectors left in
1998, Iraq had not resumed any military activity in the field of nuclear,
biological and chemical weapons. "We will provide immediate access
[to the inspectors]," he said. "We have given instructions to
all responsible people and many government areas to respond immediately
to any request to enter their sites and inspect them." Iraq would
also provide a full declaration of its dual-use chemical, biological and
nuclear programmes, he said.
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- In an interview with Sky's Sunday with Adam Boulton programme,
Mr Straw said President Saddam had "one final chance", but refused
to be drawn on the likelihood of military action.
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- "The second paragraph of the resolution talks about
a 'final opportunity'. So he mustn't believe, because he would be making
the mistake of his life, that he can mess the international community about
yet again," Mr Straw said.
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- http://news.independent.co.uk/world/politics/story.jsp?story=353
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