Jack Straw rejects investigation into mass destruction weapons claims against Iraq
Iraq-UK, Politics, 6/3/2003

The British foreign minister Jack Straw rejected yesterday the idea of having an independent investigation on the reality of having mass destruction weapons in Iraq, as demanded by two former British ministers, at a time when a published opinion poll indicates that a great percentage of British citizens have become skeptical over the existence of such weapons in Iraq.

Straw said replying to a question by the BBC on the possibility of opening an independent investigation requested by the two former ministers Clair Short and Robin Cook "I do not see any element justifying such an investigation." He renewed that there is "authentic evidence" proving that Iraq had developed chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. This was in an attempt to repel the accusations addressed to the British prime minister Tony Blair to that he had lied to the country by exaggerating the threats about the mass destruction weapons.

Straw referred to the 173- page report which was submitted by the former chairman of the UN inspection team Hans Blix on March 7th to the UN Security Council, in which he raised many question concerning armament programs.

Meantime, the British Daily Telegraph yesterday showed an opinion poll which said that only 51% of the British believe that the former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein used to own biological, chemical and nuclear weapons before the war, against 71% who used to believe so in February.

Some 44% of the British see that assertions made by Blair on Iraq's owning mass destruction weapons aimed just at getting the support of the people for a military intervention, according to an opinion poll that covered 2051 individual.

Previous Stories:
  Blair leaves the Gulf region following a historical visit to Iraq   (5/30/2003)
  Sunday Mirror: Cook: war on Iraq is wrong; British forces should withdraw   (3/31/2003)
  UN top inspector: We never asserted Iraq had any remaining weapons of mass destruction   (3/19/2003)
  UK proposes 17 March deadline for Iraq to comply with UN disarmament demands   (3/8/2003)
  UN to define remaining tasks for complete Iraqi disarmament   (3/6/2003)
  Germany wants Blix to define key remaining disarmament tasks   (2/28/2003)
  UK does flip-flop on UN resolution meaning regarding attacking Iraq   (12/14/2002)
  British dossier says Iraq has 'military plans' for use of WMD . part 2   (10/4/2002)
  Iraq's reply on Blair's report on acquisition of weapons of mass destruction   (10/4/2002)
  US and British vengeance to destroy and control a nation's potential and development   (5/8/2002)
  Blair decides not to expose damning Iraqi evidence   (4/1/2002)
  Bush, Blair to draw final touches on military attack against Iraq   (2/25/2002)
  British defense minister: No evidence on Iraq's involvement in US attacks   (12/10/2001)
  Blair attacked by protestors over death of Iraqi children   (1/11/2001)
  Iraqi parliament tells to British House of commons sanctions are killing innocent people   (12/22/2000)
  Galloway criticizes Britain, US on Iraq   (3/15/2000)

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