Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=03/10/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=IRAQ / WAR (S)

NUMBER=2-300498

BYLINE=GREG LaMOTTE

DATELINE=CAIRO

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: A senior Iraqi official says Baghdad faces war regardless of whether it can prove it has disarmed, but the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency says Saddam Hussein could still take action to avert war. VOA's Greg LaMotte has the details from our Middle East bureau in Cairo.

TEXT: Iraqi General Hussam Amin says Baghdad is expecting war even if it can meet a proposed U-S and British deadline to prove it has destroyed all of its weapons of mass destruction.

The general, who is the top Iraqi liaison to the U-N weapons inspectors, said Sunday night that Baghdad believes the United States is determined to attack and that Iraq is bracing for it.

However, Mohammad ElBaradei, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, says if Iraqi President Saddam Hussein went on television and announced his readiness for full cooperation war may not be inevitable.

Mr. ElBaradei told the London-based Al-Hayat newspaper Monday that weapons inspectors are looking for a "dramatic and fundamental" change in spirit and substance from Baghdad in the inspection process. He said Saddam Hussein needs to give instructions to Iraqi officials to completely cooperate and furnish the documents and arms they possess.

Mr. ElBaradei suggested Iraq's cooperation could lead to a compromise in the Security Council that would allow for continued inspections in Iraq for a "month to six weeks." (Signed)

NEB/GL/KL