Baghdad approves halting cooperation with UNSCOM

The Iraqi leadership on Wednesday approved the recommendation of the Nations Council (parliament) providing for halting cooperation with the UN committee in charge of eliminating weapons of mass destruction in Iraq (UNSCOM) and the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The leadership, in addition, called upon the UN Security Council to rescind resolution no. 1194, which was endorsed on September 9. A statement released following a meeting for the revolution's leadership council and the leadership of the Baath Party under the chairmanship of President Saddam Hussein, quoted by the Iraqi official news agency read that, "The leadership sees that the decisions and recommendations of the Nations Council are in the direct destiny in expressing the angry feelings of the Iraqi people over the heinous stand of the UN Security Council, which has been perpetuating its repressive siege on our people under the pressure and blackmail of the US."

The Iraqi council called upon the UN Security Council to "give up its resolution no. 1194, if dialogue with Iraq is wanted to be according to the minimum in respecting the UN charter principles away from the US pressure means."

It hoped the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan will be "more effective in keeping his promises."

The decision of the Iraqi leadership was released at a time when UN chief special representative Prakash Shah is still in Baghdad to avert a new confrontation between Iraq and the UN.