Stockholm (Sweden): Chief United Nations weapons inspector Hans Blix said on April 4
that American and British armed forces were more likely to find weapons of mass
destruction (WMD) in Iraq than his inspectors were.
However, he criticised the invasion, saying it started on "weak grounds".
Speaking in Stockholm, Blix said Iraqi officials who were reticent about nuclear,
Biological or chemical weapons would be more willing to talk after Saddam Hussein's
regime is destroyed.
"If there’s something left I am sure they (coalition forces) will find it," the 74-
year-old Swede said at a seminar on Iraq's future.
Blix said he was disappointed that weapons inspectors weren't given more time. He
called US complaints that Iraq wasn't cooperating fully "weak grounds to start a
war".
Blix said he didn't think the United States' relations with Germany and France,
which opposed military action without clear-cut UN backing, weren't badly damaged,
although "a great deal of porcelain had been destroyed".
Looking ahead he said the United Nations should have leading role in rebuilding Iraq.
Blix emphasized that the United States should work with other Countries to stop the
spread of chemical, Biological and nuclear weapons.
"The United States cannot do this alone and be its own sheriff, he said. "The
Americans must learn that this has to happen multilaterally, and the Europeans must
learn to be more energetic."
Agencies
