Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=3/16/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=U-S / IRAQ (L)

NUMBER=2=300759

BYLINE=STEPHANIE HO

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

INTERNET=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of State Colin Powell, speaking prior to the summit in the Azores, said time is running out for Iraq to disarm, or face possible military action. Their comments underscored the call by President Bush and the leaders of Britain and Spain for the international community to support an ultimatum for the immediate disarmament of Iraq. V-O-A's Stephanie Ho has more from Washington.

TEXT: Speaking on the N-B-C television program, "Meet the Press," Vice-President Dick Cheney signaled that the U-S administration is running out of patience.

/// CHENEY ACT ///

There's no question that we're close to the end, if you will, of the diplomatic efforts. We've done virtually everything we can with respect to trying to organize a second resolution in the U-N Security Council.

/// END ACT ///

Speaking on the A-B-C program, "This Week," Secretary of State Colin Powell dismissed a French proposal to give Saddam Hussein a 30-day deadline to fully disarm.

/// POWELL ACT // OPT ACT ///

We have had timelines; we have had deadlines; we have had benchmarks. The problem is, Iraq is not complying. Iraq is playing the United Nations and playing some of the friends who have permanent membership in the Security Council like a fiddle.

/// END ACT // END OPT ///

Iraq's ambassador to the United Nations, Mohammed Aldouri, insisted in an interview on C-N-N's "Late Edition" that Iraq is cooperating with U-N weapons inspectors, including providing requested reports on stocks of anthrax and V-X nerve agent, which it says it has destroyed.

/// ALDOURI ACT ///

We need some time to prove to the international community, to give evidence to the international community, that there is no more any kind, any quantity of anthrax and V-X.

/// END ACT ///

Secretary Powell said any Iraqi cooperation has been because of the military buildup in the Gulf in preparation for a possible war.

/// SECOND POWELL ACT ///

Let there be no doubt, if it wasn't for the threat of military force, if those military forces were not assembled in the Gulf right now, you would be seeing no cooperation from Iraq. You would see the same kind of games they've been playing for the last 12 years.

/// END ACT ///

Speaking earlier on "Fox News Sunday," Secretary Powell said there is one way war with Iraq could be averted.

/// POWELL ACTUALITY ///

If Saddam Hussein, his sons and a number of top leaders were to leave, and a more responsible leadership were to come in, ... then a war certainly could be averted.

/// END ACTUALITY ///

But Mr. Powell said he doubted Saddam Hussein would be willing to leave Iraq. (SIGNED)

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