Iraqis discuss UN travel ban threat
Iraq, Politics, 10/29/1997

Three parliamentary committees in Iraq began discussions yesterday on a new UN Security Council resolution threatenting further sanctions if Baghdad continues to block UN arms inspectors, an informed source said.

"Parliamentary committees on judicial affairs, Arab-international relations and oil, energy and industry debated the UN Security Council resolution and are due to submit a report to parliament," the source said.

The security council over the weekend threatened to impose a travel ban against Iraqi officials were blamed for blocking arms inspections, if Iraq continued to deny access to UN monitors.

But while the resolution, drafted by the United States and Britain, was adopted by 10 votes to zero, five counties abstained, including permanent Security Council members China, French and Russia.

Iraq has been under crippling sanctions since 1990, although the embargo was eased in December to allow Baghdad to sell limited quantities of oil to buy food and medicine.

A statement issued after a meeting of Iraq's two highest political bodies, the revolutionary command council and Ba'ath party leadership, said parliament would examine the UN resolution "exhaustively" and submit the necessary recommendations.

Iraqi deputy prime minister Tareq Aziz announced yesterday that Baghdad will not yield to the United States on the issue of sanctions.

Speaking during a parliamentary session on a UN security council resolution threatening new sanctions against Iraq, Aziz said: "The Iraqi people and their vise leadership cannot submit to the demands of the US administration and its evil aims." His remarks were reported by the official Iraqi news agency.

Previous Stories:
  US fails to further choke Iraq as latter calls on Saudis' help   (10/24/1997)
  Medical supplies to Iraq   (10/16/1997)
  Iraq pays $218 million for war compensation   (10/6/1997)

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