Iraq strongly opposes appointing Aquios as a chairman for a new weapons inspection front

Iraq strongly opposed the recommendation made by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to appoint Rolf Ekeus as chairman of a new inspection organization for Iraqi weapons of mass destruction. Ekeus was the first person to head the UNSCOM inspection teams in Iraq after the Gulf War. Iraq Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz depicted nominating Ekeus (of Swedish origin) as nothing but "old beer in a new bottle."