Baghdad, Nov 24: Baghdad repeated today that returning UN inspectors would find no prohibited arms in Iraq, as the Bush administration signalled it might acquiesce to President Saddam Hussein remaining in power if he were to give up his alleged weapons of mass destruction. "The inspectors will not find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq for a simple reason, which is that Iraq is free of such weapons. But let them search because the United States has a complex ... reflected in its plans to attack us," said ath-Thawra newspaper, mouthpiece of Iraq's ruling Baath party.
"We the Iraqi people are the weapons of our country, the arms made of flesh and blood," the daily said, mocking US President George W Bush as "Clown George".
"The United States ... thinks that its policies can scare the world and force it to submit to the US will, but in fact, it is the opposite that happened," it said.

Washington's conduct "led to the world's awakening, which in turn led to the isolation of the United States and made them look like clowns, chiefly clown George whether in his declarations or his performance."



The US should realise that "its arrogant, condescending attitude with others and its violation of the UN charter and international law harm its image," ath-Thawra said.



Ath-Thawra's comments came on the eve of the arrival in Baghdad of the first team of UN weapons inspectors who will resume the search for Iraq's alleged prohibited arsenal on Wednesday after a four-year break.


Bureau Report