United Nation: As the United Nations Security Council holds a crucial meeting on
February 5, which could make a difference between war and peace, Iraqi Ambassador
Mohammed Aldouri is expected to address the Council after US Secretary of State
Colin Powell presents "new evidence" on Baghdad's weapons programmes.
Aldouri had submitted a letter asking the Council to allow him to speak after Powell
and US officials said they have no objection.
Russia's UN Ambassador Sergey Lavrov also supported Iraq, saying Baghdad has
sovereign right to speak as the subject matter concerned it. But the Council will
take a final decision in a closed-door meeting.
Powell would present a "straightforward, sober and compelling demonstration" that
Baghdad is concealing weapons of mass destruction from the weapons inspectors, even
as Iraq denies that it possesses such weapons or is concealing them or has any
programme to produce them.
In his 40-minute presentation, Powell is expected to present photographs and
transcripts of intercepted conservations of Iraqi leadership in an effort to prove
his point that Iraq is hiding weapons and violating the Council resolutions, but
says there will be no "smoking gun".
How far the other members are impressed by the presentation will be known, as
Foreign Ministers of 11 other members address the Council for about 10 minutes each
and address the reporters as they come out of the chamber.
Aldouri said he is confident that Powell cannot present any evidence that Iraq
possesses such weapons, or that it has links with terror network al-Qaida.
Foreign Ministers from Russia, Britain, France, China, Germany, Spain, Bulgaria,
Mexico, Chile, Pakistan and Cameroon are expected to attend the crucial meeting of
the Council, while Syria, Angola and Guinea will be represented by their respective
Ambassadors.
If the Council agrees with Powell's evidence, it could determine Iraq in "material
breach" of its resolutions, which could attract military action against it.
Depending on the reaction of others, Washington might seek another resolution giving
some sort of ultimatum to Baghdad. It would not bring forward such a resolution if
it finds that it lacks requisite nine votes with no veto need for the adoption.
The US has already said it does not need another resolution and has authority under
earlier resolutions to take military action if it considers Iraq is in material
breach, but tremendous international pressure is being exerted on it to seek another
resolution.
The Council resolutions call on Iraq to destroy its nuclear, chemical and biological
weapons and related materials and facilities and the United Nations weapons are
expected to certify that it had done so before tough sanctions against it can be
eased.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is US President George W Bush's most loyal
supporter, too is asking him to seek another resolution and he repeated his demand
once again on February 3 in the British Parliament.
Latest CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll, released on February 3, shows that half of the
respondents have not made up their mind and 60 per cent thought that Powell's
presentation would be an important factor.
PTI
