World News 17-09-2002 Saddam Says Unconditional Yes To Weapons Inspectors who: Foreign minister Naji Sabri what: Accepts UN`s demand to admit weapons inspectors where: Iraq when: Yesterday snippet: "Iraq sought to head off an American attack by offering last night to allow the unconditional return of United Nations weapons inspectors," reports The Times. "A letter was hand-delivered to Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary-General, by Naji Sabri, Iraq`s Foreign Minister." "The government of the republic of Iraq has based its decision concerning the return of inspectors on its desire to complete the implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions," said the letter, "and to remove any doubts that Iraq still possesses weapons of mass destruction." "The US on Monday night responded sceptically to the Iraqi offer," says The Financial Times, "insisting a UN resolution requiring Iraq to disarm was still needed. This is not a matter of inspections, the White House said." Meanwhile, secretary of state Colin Powell has scheduled meetings with the foreign ministers of Colombia, Mexico and Syria, non-permanent members of the UN Security Council, says The Independent. He hopes to win the approval of nine of the council`s 15 members for the uncompromising Iraq resolution the US wants, writes Washington correspondent Rupert Cornwell. [... more]

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