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UN should assess any weapons discovered in Iraq: Elbaradei
Berlin, Apr 12: Any weapons discovered in Iraq should be examined by united nations inspectors, the head of the UN`s nuclear watchdog, Mohammed Elbaradei, said in a German newspaper interview to be published on Sunday.
Berlin, Apr 12: Any weapons discovered in Iraq should be examined by united nations inspectors, the head of the UN's nuclear watchdog, Mohammed Elbaradei, said in a German newspaper interview to be published on Sunday.
"It is not enough for suspect substances to be analysed in US laboratories. The results must be examined by UN inspectors," Elbaradei told ‘The Sunday’ tabloid newspaper ‘bild am Sonntag’.
"Only that way can we ensure the credibility of any declaration about possible weapons of mass destruction in Iraq," he said.
"Up until now, there is no evidence that Iraq still has Weapons of Mass Destruction," he said.
"As soon as the fighting is over, UN inspectors must get back to their work -- in line with the instructions of the UN Security Council," Elbaradei told the tabloid.
"If any banned weapons are discovered, only the United Nations would have the authority to destroy them -- not the United States," he said.
Britain's ‘Guardian’ newspaper reported today that London and Washington had sent a secret team of US and British inspectors to Iraq to search for Weapons of Mass Destruction, bypassing the United Nations.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said on Thursday he hoped UN weapons inspectors could return to Iraq as soon as possible.
"Only that way can we ensure the credibility of any declaration about possible weapons of mass destruction in Iraq," he said.
"Up until now, there is no evidence that Iraq still has Weapons of Mass Destruction," he said.
"As soon as the fighting is over, UN inspectors must get back to their work -- in line with the instructions of the UN Security Council," Elbaradei told the tabloid.
"If any banned weapons are discovered, only the United Nations would have the authority to destroy them -- not the United States," he said.
Britain's ‘Guardian’ newspaper reported today that London and Washington had sent a secret team of US and British inspectors to Iraq to search for Weapons of Mass Destruction, bypassing the United Nations.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said on Thursday he hoped UN weapons inspectors could return to Iraq as soon as possible.
"Their mandate is still valid. It is only suspended because it became inoperable on account of the war," he said.
Bureau Report