Chief U.N. nuclear inspector Mohamed ElBaradei, preparing to give a crucial report to the Security Council on Friday, said inspections should continue for months because "we are moving forward."
ElBaradei and Hans Blix, his counterpart, will tell the council that Iraq is developing new missiles systems, has imported parts that could be used for a nuclear program, and still isn't cooperating 100 percent, U.N. officials said Thursday.
According to AP, British diplomats said it was possible that the United States and Britain could present a proposal by Saturday for a new resolution authorizing military action against Iraq. Both Secretary of State Colin Powell and his British peer, Jack Straw, will attend Friday's open briefing by the inspectors and speak in the council. Immediately afterward, they will hold private meetings with the 13 other members of the council.
"We're still in midcourse," ElBaradei, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, told AP in an interview Thursday. "But we are moving forward, and I see no reason for us to bring the inspection process to a halt."
Iraq's U.N. Ambassador Mohammed Al-Douri went to see Blix late Thursday about the report. "I'm worried," he said afterwards. "It's a question of war and peace."
ElBaradei said he supported increasing the number of inspectors — a move favored by Germany and France. "We need a strong, intrusive regime," he said. "We would like to see our inspections beefed up, but that's no substitute for full and active Iraqi cooperation."
Meanwhile, NATO cancelled Thursday's planned formal meeting of its ambassadors to discuss a damaging crisis over Iraq amid continuing splits over military planning, spokesman Yves Brodeur said.
The decision not to resume the talks until possibly next week was linked to the the crucial meeting of the UN Security Council.
"After consultations between countries, it was decided that it would be difficult to make progress in a formal meeting," Brodeur told reporters, while adding that informal talks would continue.
"We have delayed the meeting until a later time," he said. "It could be tomorrow. It could be next week." (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
