London: If reports that Iraq is breaking rules on its missiles' range are correct,
it would be a "significant" breach of the UN's resolution, British Prime Minister
Tony Blair said on February 13.
"If these reports are correct, it is very serious,'' Blair said after talks with
Australian Prime Minister John Howard.
Chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix is expected to say on February 14 that Iraq has
developed a banned missile.
The al-Samoud 2 can hit targets 184 km away – further than the UN allows.
Iraqi deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz on February 13 dismissed suggestions that
Iraqi missile programme is in breach of UN resolutions.
"We are still within limits that are decided by the UN," Aziz said in Rome.
"Any possible overshoot by the rocket during tests was accidental and caused because
the missile did not have a guidance system," he said.
PTI
