United Nations, Feb 11: The UN Security Council remains sharply divided over pursuing peace or rushing to war in Iraq, with both sides going on the offensive ahead of a key report from UN weapons inspectors assessing Saddam Hussein's cooperation. While France, Russia and Germany called for more time yesterday for beefed-up inspections, the United States and Britain stood by their position that Saddam's final opportunity to disarm peacefully is nearing an end. Iraq sent a letter to UN inspectors agreeing to allow the use of American U-2 surveillance planes and pledged to pass legislation next week outlawing the use of weapons of mass destruction, two demands which top inspectors Hans Blix and Mohamed Elbaradei pushed for during their weekend trip to Baghdad. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan called the Iraqi acceptance "encouraging". "In fact, both Blix and Elbaradei said they are beginning to see ...A certain change in their attitude," he said but added, "We all have to wait for the report of the inspectors."
Bureau Report