Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=2/11/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=BRITAIN-IRAQ (L)

NUMBER=2-299511

BYLINE=TOM RIVERS

DATELINE=LONDON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Britain's Foreign Secretary says more U-N weapons inspectors would not compensate for the lack of cooperation from Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Tom Rivers reports from London that Foreign Secretary Jack Straw is critical of the French-German-Russian plan to boost the weapons inspection process in Iraq.

TEXT: Britain's Foreign Secretary says the issue is not how many inspectors there are, but rather the urgent need for Saddam Hussein to show complete and open cooperation with the inspectors already in Iraq.

/// STRAW 1ST ACT ///

In the absence of Iraqi cooperation, even a thousand-fold increase in the inspectors capabilities will not allow us to establish, with any degree of confidence, that Iraq has been disarmed.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Straw also rejected the idea of using U-N soldiers to protect weapons inspectors.

He said the ideas being presented by France, Germany and Russia would not help achieve the goal of ensuring that Iraq is free of weapons of mass destruction.

/// STRAW 2ND ACT ///

Nothing in Saddam's performance can give any confidence that any of these proposals would in any way change Saddam Hussein's behavior. Instead, they are a recipe for procrastination and for delay.

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European and U-S officials are continuing to meet in Brussels, and elsewhere, to try to bridge the gap between the British and U-S view, and the French-German-Russian position. The chief weapons inspectors' report to the U-N Security Council on Friday will be a key moment in the debate. (Signed)

NEB/TR/AWP/RAE/FC