Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=3/17/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT (L)

TITLE=UN / IRAQ / EVACUATION

NUMBER=2-300814

BYLINE=JENNY BADNER

DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS

INTERNET=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: U-N Secretary General Kofi Annan has ordered all U-N humanitarian workers and weapons inspectors to leave Iraq and suspended the oil-for- food program there. Correspondent Jenny Badner reports from the United Nations.

TEXT: Mr. Annan says after receiving information from U-S authorities, he made the decision to evacuate U-N workers and weapons inspectors from Iraq. The Secretary General says that all U-N programs, including inspections for Iraqi weapons of mass destruction have, therefore, been suspended.

/ / / FIRST ANNAN ACT / / /

I have just informed the Council that we will withdraw the UNMOVIC (U-N Monitoring and Verification Commission) and Atomic Energy Agency (I-A-E-A) inspectors. We will withdraw the humanitarian workers. We will withdraw the UNIKOM (U-N Iraq-Kuwait Observer Mission) troops on the Iraq-Kuwaiti border (they) will also not be able to operate.

/ / / END ACT / / /

Mr. Annan says that without U-N workers, programs, such as "Oil for Food," can not be administered. Under the provisions of U-N sancstions against Iraq, United Nations personnel supervise Iraq's oil exports to pay for imports of food and other basic goods.

Last month, U-N officials said that nearly 80-percent of Iraqis are dependent on existing food-distribution programs.

U-N aid groups have been making contingency plans and Mr. Annan says that the United Nations will find a way to help the Iraqi population should war break out.

/ / / REST OPT / / /

/ / / ANNAN ACT / / /

This does not mean that if war comes to Iraq, the United Nations will sit back and not do anything to help the Iraqi population. We will find a way of resuming our humanitarian activities to help the Iraqi people who have suffered for so long and do whatever we can to give them assistance and support.

/ / / END ACT / / / ///

Many countries have already urged their citizens to leave the area and the United States has also ordered non-essential diplomatic staff and government dependents to leave Syria, Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank.

Despite the evacuation of U-N inspectors as war looms, Germany's Ambassador to the United Nations says that he expects chief inspector Hans Blix to provide a clear program of work to the Security Council later this week. (SIGNED)

NEB/JB/FC/rae