Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=02/05/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=POWELL / IRAQ REACT (L-O)

NUMBER=2-299264

BYLINE=GREG LaMOTTE

DATELINE=CAIRO

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Iraqi officials say the evidence Secretary of State Colin Powell presented to the Security Council was filled with lies intended to create a reason for war against Baghdad. V-O-A's Greg LaMotte reports on Iraqi reaction from our Middle East bureau in Cairo.

TEXT: The head of Iraq's Arab and foreign relations committee, Salem al-Kubaisi, says Secretary of State Powell's presentation was filled with what he called "lies and fabrications, which have no material proof." The senior member of the Iraqi parliament said that Mr. Powell's comments are intended to create a pretext for military action against Iraq.

A political commentator on Iraqi satellite television called the report to the Security Council "a farce," saying it was what he called a "sloppy attempt to repeat lies" and "create excuses for war."

Iraq has steadfastly maintained it possesses no weapons of mass destruction. Secretary Powell told the Security Council Iraq was engaged in what he called a "long-standing policy of evasion and deception" with U-N weapons inspectors.

Elsewhere in the Arab world there has been limited official reaction so far to Mr. Powell's presentation.

Political analyst Sami Baroudi says Mr. Powell appeared to be telling the truth when he spoke to the Security Council. But the head of the political science department at Lebanese American University in Beirut says it probably won't change public perception throughout the region.

/// BAROUDI ACT ///

Certainly he was quite prepared, quite composed. I mean he didn't sound, at all, as if he was making things up, I mean he sounded quite credible. But, at the same time, perceptions about the United States, I think, are already fixed in the region so I don't think a speech will change things one way or another.

/// END ACT ///

No Arab country has publicly supported a possible U-S led attack against Iraq.

/// REST OPT /// Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Prince Saud, said Wednesday that the kingdom has put forth a proposal to the Security Council aimed at ending the crisis peacefully. The foreign minister said Saudi Arabia is asking the Security Council to give Arabs one last chance to avert a strike against Iraq.

In Egypt, the Middle East News Agency reported that President Bush telephoned Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak Wednesday to discuss the situation in the region. The news agency reported that Mr. Mubarak urged the president to reach a "peaceful solution" concerning Iraq. (Signed)

NEB/GL/KL/MAR/FC