New Delhi: Faced with UN inspection for weapons of mass destruction, Iraq on November 15 appealed to India to prevail upon the US and other key members of the international community to protect its sovereignty and demanded that Indian inspectors should join the world body's team to lend credibility to the process.

"India, which is a major player in the international community, has established good relations with the US and has traditional linkages with Iraq. India should play its role to ensure that the US and other countries adhere to the UN charter and the international law," Iraqi Ambassador Salah Al-Mukhtar told reporters.

Asked if Baghdad was satisfied with New Delhi's role, he said, "Yes, we are satisfied. We hope India will a play a more active role than what it is currently doing."

Replying to questions, Al-Mukhtar said Indian weapons inspectors should join the UN team to "prevent" the world body from coming under US and British "pressure" to "defy" the international law.

Dismissing as "totally fabricated" the charge that Baghdad might possess nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction, the envoy accused the US of threatening to launch a war against Iraq with the "root cause" being controlling the oil fields which have huge reserves, probably more than Saudi Arabia's.

Observing that India has always supported Iraq's sovereignty and territorial integrity, he said Baghdad would also want New Delhi to help defuse any crisis that might arise during the inspection exercise.

PTI