UN Secretary General Kofi Annan warned today that any attack on Iraq would be "unwise" given the "current circumstances" in the Middle East.
"I think it would be unwise to attack Iraq, given the current circumstances of what's happening in the Middle East," he told reporters in response to questions about the hardening position of the United States about regime change in Baghdad.
Mr Annan said he was hopeful he would be able to respond later in the day, after talks with the UN Security Council, to Iraq's invitation to the chief UN weapons inspector to visit Bagdhad. He said he hoped to "formulate a reaction and an answer by this afternoon" after the regular monthly lunch to mark the change of the presidency of the Security Council.
Chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix yesterday ruled out a visit to Baghdad for talks on renewed arms inspections, as the war of words stepped up between Iraq and the administration of US President George W. Bush.In a letter to Mr Annan late on Thursday, Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri extended an invitation to Mr Blix and members of his team to discuss the possible resumption of weapons inspections, halted in December 1998.Whether the letter indicates "a real change in attitude is something we will have to test," Mr Annan told reporters upon his arrival at the world body's headquarters in New York.But the United States, if it does attack, has no intention of seeking approval from the council and is expected to oppose the visit by Mr Blix. The White House today immediately rejected an invitation from Baghdad to members of Congress, to look at any alleged weapons site although it admitted no interested lawmaker could be prevented from going."There's no need for discussion. What there is a need for is for the regime in Baghdad to live up to its commitment to disarm," US National Security Council spokesman Mr Sean McCormack said.
Most other council members, including France, Russia and China, will probably urge Mr Blix to make the trip, in hopes this would lead to the return of the inspectors and thereby delay threatened US action for any action against Saddam. AFP