United Nations: In an effort to make a case for military action against Iraq, United
States Secretary of State Colin Powell is to make a crucial presentation to the
United Nations Security Council to convince the sceptical members that Baghdad is
hiding its weapons of mass destruction and having links with al-Qaida terror network.
In his presentation on February 5, which is expected to last between 60 and 90
minutes, Powell will also reveal intelligence evidence to show that Iraq had been
importing banned materials as late as past month or so, American officials say.
It will include satellite photographs of materials being moved from sites just
before weapons inspectors' visits, intercepts of conversations between Iraqi
leaders, which the US officials say, show them talking about concealing evidence
from inspectors and coaching scientists on how to answer inspectors' questions.
To prove Baghdad's link with Osama bin Laden's dreaded al-Qaida terror network, the
presentation would detail on al-Qaida members going in and out of the country
without explicating, diplomats said.
The intercepts are in Arabic, but English translation will be made available, they
said. However, it is unclear whether Powell will distribute transcripts to other
members to allow detailed analysis.
Iraqi Ambassador Mohammed Aldouri, who would be present, is expected to respond
towards the end of the meeting after 12 other Foreign Ministers and Ambassadors of
two member states have spoken.
Powell, who has promised to give a "convincing case" that Iraq is defying UN
disarmament resolutions, spent February 4 rehearsing his speech at a New York hotel.
A US technical team which came with Powell from Washington, set up two large screens
in the Council chamber for the presentation, which will be carried live worldwide.
Chief weapons inspector Hans Blix and director general of the International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA) Mohamed el Baradei will attend the meeting, but are not likely
to address it.
They are going to Baghdad this weekend for discussions with Iraqi officials ahead of
presentation of their second major report to the Council on February 14. The third
report is expected in mid-March, but moves are afoot to ask them to give another
report in early March, diplomats say.
To press the US case against widespread opposition to immediate military action
against Baghdad, Powell is scheduled to have several bilateral meetings on February
5.
He will talk with German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer before the meeting and
Foreign Ministers of Britain, Russia, France, Mexico, Spain, Bulgaria, Angola, Chile
and Pakistan after the meeting, US diplomats say. Powell met Chinese Foreign
Minister Tang Jaixuan on February 4.
Besides, they will have informal discussions at a luncheon being hosted by Fischer,
who will chair the meeting. Germany holds the rotating presidency of the Council for
the current month.
German Ambassador Gunter Pleuger said Fischer and Powell would discuss about
presentation of the evidence by the United States.
PTI
