Moscow, Annan talks about lifting Iraq sanctions within months; first day of inspections 'typical'

The first day of inspection for the Iraqi weapons passed peacefully without obstacles and the inspectors got what they want, hoping that this day will be "typical" for future cooperation between the Iraqi government and the UN.

In almost absence of the American comment, this result received international welcome in which Moscow expected the lifting of the UN sanctions imposed on Iraq by July if the inspection operations will be carried out as scheduled, while the UN secretary general Kofi Annan talked about lifting the sanctions within one year.

The director of the team of the International Agency for Atomic energy, the French Jacque Bout, said that the team was able to carry out the set inspection operations in collaboration with the Iraqis and "we were able to reach what we intend to see." adding " We do hope that this Iraqi position will reflect a type of future cooperation between us." The sudden inspection operations yesterday covered three industrial and military areas in which the inspectors spent hours inside where they were accompanied by employees from the Iraqi national control department with complete ban of the media escort as requested by the UN.

However, the officials for the areas inspected permitted journalists to get in after the inspectors had left in the context of the Iraqi persistence to have the media involved in monitoring the inspection operations.