Hussein bans the production, imports of mass destruction weapons

The Iraqi President Saddam Hussein yesterday issued a Presidential decree according to which he banned dealing with the chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, processed, or imported, just hours before the reports of the two UN inspectors and in implementation of previous international demands.

The Iraqi decree said " individuals, and companies in both the private and joint sectors are prevented from importing, producing and processing biological, chemical and nuclear weapons, as a material and weapons." It added that "the ministries concerned, have to implement this decree and take necessary measures to impose sanctions on those who violate it." The decree which was issued by the Iraqi president is considered one of the 10 items included in the agreement between UN weapon's chief inspector chairman and the chairman of the International Agency for Atomic Energy with the Iraqi officials in January this year.

Reacting to the Iraqi decree, the spokesman for the White House said that it is not possible to give any credibility to rules issued by the " Iraqi dictatorship." He considered that this decision by the Iraqi President is 12 years late.