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Blix: Question marks remain
UNITED NATIONS (CNN) -- Iraq has made greater steps to disarm recently but "question marks" remain over the destruction of other weapons, including nerve gas and anthrax, the U.N.'s chief inspector Hans Blix has said. Blix told reporters Wednesday that Iraq's destruction of its al-Samoud 2 missiles, which began Saturday, was "real disarmament" but he raised doubts over the depth of co-operation in other areas. "What exactly these measures they (Iraq) are taking will result in, well, that will be decided by the critical analysis of our experts," he said. Blix is scheduled to report Friday to the U.N. Security Council on Iraq's cooperation with weapons inspectors. France, Russia and Germany, meanwhile, have vowed not to allow the passage of a second U.N. resolution that could trigger war against Iraq. The foreign ministers of the three countries, meeting in Paris, issued a joint statement Wednesday insisting that weapons inspectors should be given more time. The mini-summit was held amid quickening U.S.-led preparations for war and ahead of Friday's meeting of the U.N. Security Council, when it will hear the latest progress reports from weapons inspection chiefs. France and Russia are both permanent members of the Security Council and have the power to veto any resolution. Germany is a non-permanent member. French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin said: "We will not allow the passage of a planned resolution which would authorize the use of force. "Russia and France as permanent security council members will fully assume all their responsibilities." The three said they were united in their approach to Iraq and their call on Baghdad to cooperate more fully with the U.N. weapons experts. CNN's Jill Dougherty says that Russia has taken a stronger line in recent days with Ivanov warning that the use of force without a second resolution would be "a serious mistake with serious consequences." Ivanov warned in London that Russia would not abstain from any future U.N. Security Council vote on Iraq, nor would it support any measure furthering the possibility of war. "The Iraq question is precisely that sort of question when permanent members of the Security Council should not abstain," Ivanov told a news conference. (Full story) Dougherty said that Russia has exerted what pressure it could on Baghdad and now faced a difficult choice on how far to go in opposing any U.S. action. In Washington, officials said the Bush administration had not ruled out abandoning plans for a vote on a second U.N. resolution on Iraq if it was clear defeat was imminent. (Full story) But Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair said Wednesday there would be a vote on a second U.N. resolution, which he said he was sure would be passed. Blair rejected reports that London and Washington would back off from a vote if they think they will not win. "If (Saddam) is not complying, there will undoubtedly be a resolution put to a vote," he told parliament in the regular weekly Question Time session. "We are confident of securing the votes for that resolution." Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell was telling Russia's state-controlled television that the U.S. was prepared to lead a war against Iraq with or without the consent of the United Nations.
Powell said that Saddam "must be disarmed ... and he will be disarmed -- peacefully, hopefully. But if necessary, the United States is prepared to lead a coalition of willing nations, either under U.N. authority or without U.N. authority, if that turns out to be the case, in order to disarm this man." (Too little, too late) In Baghdad, inspectors oversaw the destruction of nine more al-Samoud 2 missiles Wednesday, bringing the total number of the destroyed weapons to 28. Also Wednesday, inspectors supervised the final disposal of 50 liters of neutralized mustard from missiles at Al-Muthana, spokesman Hiro Ueki said. Both the mustard gas, extracted by syringe, and the empty shells were disposed of, Ueki said. Iraqi officials are working with weapons inspectors on a schedule to destroy more than 100 of the missiles, but warned that could change if it becomes clear the United States intends to go to war. -- CNN correspondent Rym Brahimi contributed to this report.
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