IRAQ - Jan. 27 - Blix Attacks Baghdad Over Lack Of Co-operation.

In his long-awaited report to the UN Security Council on Iraqi disarmament, chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix strongly criticises Baghdad for failing to account for its banned weapons. He acknowledges that Baghdad has granted access to weapons inspectors but he says: "Iraq appears not to have come to a genuine acceptance, not even today, of the disarmament which was demanded of it, and which it needs to carry out to win the confidence of the world and to live in peace". He repeats his recent complaints that the 12,000-page weapons declaration submitted by Iraq in December failed to answer many remaining questions. He also raises new concerns, in what might be a hint that more time could produce a "smoking gun". He says inspectors found at one site a laboratory quantity of a precursor of mustard gas. He also says two long-range missile projects, which were both tested "to a range in excess of the permitted range of 150km, might very well represent prima facie cases of proscribed systems." (Blix's report marks a crucial test for Baghdad amidst US warnings that time is running out for Saddam to disarm. But it will also test the unity of the UN Security Council, where deliberations on the report are to continue on Jan. 28-29). Blix says another report is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 14. Blix's words contrasted with the more positive tone struck by the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency Mohammad El Baradei, who said the inspectors had found no evidence that Baghdad had resumed its nuclear weapons programme. He also asked for more time: "We should be able within the next few months to provide credible assurance that Iraq has no nuclear weapons programme. These few months would be an invaluable investment in peace". Iraqi Ambassador to the UN Mohammad Al Douri said his government remained ready to "actively co-operate" to respond to any doubts. But US State Secretary Powell said: "To this day, the [Iraqi] regime continues to defy the will of the United Nations. The regime has responded to [UN demands for disarmament] with empty claims, empty declarations and empty gestures". UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Baghdad had turned inspections into a "charade". But after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels he stressed: "The decision about continuation of inspections is a matter for the Security Council, not for any one state". The other permanent members of the UN Security Council - France, Russia and China - maintained their calls for the UN inspectors to be given more time.