Iraq is studying UN demands to destroy a banned missile and hopes to resolve the issue without 'evil' US intervention, Iraq's top disarmament liaison officer has said.
'We are serious in investigating this issue,' General Hossam Mohammad Amin told a press conference.
'We hope this will be solved without American or British intervention... those who have evil intentions.'
UN demands Iraq destroy missiles
UN chief weapons inspector Hans Blix wrote to Baghdad on Friday warning it to destroy its banned Al-Samoud 2 missiles, which have a range exceeding the 150 kilometre limit, starting from March 1.
'The letter is currently being studied,' said Amin, the director general of the National Monitoring Directorate which liases with the UN weapons inspectors.
'We have no intention to challenge the scientific judgement, the methodology of the UN,' Amin said, although he admitted Baghdad had not expected the missile to be banned.
But he added, 'We hope the UN will listen to our point of view... we have to sit down together. It should be resolved by technical meetings, by exchanging points of view.'
He stressed that Iraq was trying to work faster with the inspection process. 'We are still talking with the inspectors. Maybe what is meant by more co-operation is to work more quickly and that is what we are trying to do,' he said
Team to meet on anthrax and VX
General Amin noted that Iraq had invited a UN technical team to discuss outstanding questions on anthrax and VX toxic agents. The team was expected to arrive on March 2.
Iraqi officials say they have about 100 al-Samoud 2 missiles, of which 50 have been delivered to the army.
Former Russian PM in Baghdad
The former Russian Prime Minister, Yevgeny Primakov, is reported to have left Baghdad, after what is being described as a confidential mission for President Vladimir Putin.
The purpose of the mission has not been disclosed. Mr Primakov is a Middle East expert and a friend of President Saddam Hussein.
Russia, which has extensive economic interests in Iraq, favours a peaceful solution to the current crisis over disarmament.
US prepares diplomatic offensive
The visit is taking place as the US and its allies prepare a diplomatic offensive to win support for a new UN Security Council resolution authorising the use of force against Iraq.
As part of the campaign, the US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, is in China to seek its support, or at least an end to its opposition to a new resolution.
Blix to present questions on Iraq
The chief UN weapons inspector, Hans Blix, is due to present a list of more than 30 unresolved questions about Iraqi disarmament when he meets his advisory board in New York tomorrow.
The meeting will take place 11 days before the deadline set by Mr Blix for his next report to the UN Security Council on Iraqi compliance.
