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Iraq preparing for war against US, UK: Aziz
Iraq has prepared for a certain military attack by US and British forces, Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz said in comments published on Thursday.
Iraq has prepared for a certain military attack by US and British forces, Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz said in comments published on Thursday.
"US and British attacks are expected... and we have taken the necessary preparations to face up to them," Aziz told a forum on Iraqi-Lebanese relations late on Wednesday.
The Iraqi cabinet, which met under President Saddam Hussein's chairmanship on Wednesday, "studied the issue for many hours as well as the preparations to face up to attacks," Aziz added.
A meeting on Tuesday between Saddam and high-ranking army officers also focused on "anticipated attacks."
Washington and London "are threatening Iraq with new and extensive attacks, adding to what the country has already been through," Aziz said.
Aziz's comments come as Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri prepared to meet UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in New York Thursday in an apparent bid to avert a US military attack on his country. The United States, backed by Britain, has dropped broad hints that it will take military action against Iraq unless UN weapons inspectors are allowed back into the country to check that Baghdad no longer has weapons of mass destruction.
UN arms inspectors pulled out of Iraq in December 1998 amid deadlock with Baghdad. Their withdrawal was followed by a US and British bombing blitz.
The international community regularly accuses Iraq of hiding or developing such weapons, while Baghdad has insisted several times since the 1991 Gulf War that it has destroyed them.
US President George W Bush, who has described Iraq as being part of an "axis of evil" along with Iran and North Korea, is due to meet British Prime Minister Tony Blair next month to discuss what action to take against Baghdad. Bureau Report
"US and British attacks are expected... and we have taken the necessary preparations to face up to them," Aziz told a forum on Iraqi-Lebanese relations late on Wednesday.
The Iraqi cabinet, which met under President Saddam Hussein's chairmanship on Wednesday, "studied the issue for many hours as well as the preparations to face up to attacks," Aziz added.
A meeting on Tuesday between Saddam and high-ranking army officers also focused on "anticipated attacks."
Washington and London "are threatening Iraq with new and extensive attacks, adding to what the country has already been through," Aziz said.
Aziz's comments come as Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri prepared to meet UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in New York Thursday in an apparent bid to avert a US military attack on his country. The United States, backed by Britain, has dropped broad hints that it will take military action against Iraq unless UN weapons inspectors are allowed back into the country to check that Baghdad no longer has weapons of mass destruction.
UN arms inspectors pulled out of Iraq in December 1998 amid deadlock with Baghdad. Their withdrawal was followed by a US and British bombing blitz.
The international community regularly accuses Iraq of hiding or developing such weapons, while Baghdad has insisted several times since the 1991 Gulf War that it has destroyed them.
US President George W Bush, who has described Iraq as being part of an "axis of evil" along with Iran and North Korea, is due to meet British Prime Minister Tony Blair next month to discuss what action to take against Baghdad. Bureau Report