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CNN LIVE AT DAYBREAK

Key Arms Report to U.N. Likely to be Mixed Picture

Aired February 14, 2003 - 06:32   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: As the anticipation grows, we take you live to the center of the issue.
Our senior U.N. correspondent, Richard Roth, is at the United Nations, and CNN's senior international correspondent, Christiane Amanpour, is in London.

Good morning to you both.

We start with Richard.

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Well, the United Nations is humming with activity. There are dozens of satellite trucks outside. The U.N. hasn't seen this much activity in some time, and it's all because of the international arms inspectors' report due to today in about four-and-a-half hours.

Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei, the leading inspectors, will each publicly address the U.N. Security Council, giving their update on Iraq's level of cooperation so far. It's likely to be a mixed picture.

Blix could note more cooperation on interviews with scientists and U-2 surveillance flights, but there are also still some gaps in omissions. Where is the documentation to say that anthrax and VX nerve agent has been destroyed?

Mohamed ElBaradei, the nuclear inspector, is likely to say there are still concerns about aluminum tubing and uranium enrichment programs. However, ElBaradei says Iraq should still be given more time to prove it's in the clear.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOHAMED ELBARADEI, INTL. ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY: Well, I think we still have a chance if we continue with our work. If Iraq provides some cooperation, we should still be able to avoid the war.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROTH: The real war may be the diplomatic war first. That's likely to erupt soon after the presentations by Blix and ElBaradei. The Security Council will go behind closed doors. There is still no agreement yet on any second resolution, and none has been presented.

For European comment and acceptance of all of these reports, let's go to Christiane Amanpour in London. CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Thank you, Richard, and good morning, Carol.

They're saying that it's out of control -- that is, the relationship now between the United States and its trans-Atlantic allies. Never in the history over such a massive and important subject has there been such serious division. And perhaps this report today could only exacerbate those divisions, because there is a significant weight of political opinion here in Europe, which will see that report today depending on what they say, and if it is as Richard says, then people here will say, well, the inspections seem to be working, we're moving ahead, let's give it more time.

On the other hand, Britain and the United States feel that the time has now run out, or is about to run out, and this perhaps will need to be resolved military.

Britain, which is the United States' strongest ally, has a very serious problem, and that is, very, very few people here believe the need to go to war, which is similar to what most people around the world feel. Britain desperately needs a Security Council resolution to authorize a war if it should come to that. But there is no guarantee that a Security Council resolution will be tabled, whether it will mean anything, and whether or not it would pass, because at least three members of the permanent five of the Security Council are holding a veto and may, in fact, use it.

So, this is becoming a potential issue, and this is what we're going to be watching certainly in the days after this report is delivered by the weapons inspectors to the U.N.

COSTELLO: All right, Christiane Amanpour reporting live from London, Richard Roth from New York -- thanks to you both.

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