WASHINGTON, January 18: The war of words between Iraq and United States is showing no signs of abating, with the Clinton administration last night firmly urging Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to end his defiance over the question of granting United Nations access to mass destruction weapons sites, in return for lifting of economic sanctions. Reacting to Saddam's threat to halt all UN arms inspections and the warning to Washington not to take military action against Baghdad, a White House official cryptically said that Iraq still had to meet its obligations under the Security Council-resolutions.Earlier, reports reaching here from Baghdad said Saddam's defiant comments were made on the seventh anniversary of the Gulf War, even as United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) chief Richard Butler arrived in Bahrain en route to Baghdad for another round of negotiations with Iraqi leaders. The talks to end the latest stalemate over dismantling of weapons of mass destruction are scheduled to start
tomorrow.
Responding to the United States stern message that UN economic sanctions against Iraq would not be lifted till all the Security Council resolutions are complied with, Saddam said that Iraqi leaders and citizens were prepared to "launch a great jihad" to get the sanctions lifted. "If the Security Council does not adopt its decision to meet its obligations towards Iraq...Iraq is determined to adopt a stand parallel to a recommendation made by the representatives of the people in the National Assembly," Saddam said.
According to the Iraqi News Agency, the National Assembly had recommended that Iraq stop cooperating with UN inspection teams. On Washington's threat to consider military option against Baghdad, the Iraqi President said it would be prudent for the "arrogant, selfish and blind" Clinton administration to be careful about what it was intending to do.
On Friday, America's Ambassador to the UN, Bill Richardson, said in a television interview that Saddam was "dreaming" if he thoughtsanctions would be lifted unless Iraq adhered to UN Security Council resolutions.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
