Tariq Aziz heads for New York to meet with UN chief

Iraqi Deputy Premier Tariq Aziz left Baghdad for Amman Thursday and then for New York where he will meet with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. A well-informed Iraqi source said that several Iraqi officials are accompanying Aziz on his visit to UN headquarters.

Meanwhile, diplomatic sources at the UN announced that Aziz will arrive in New York next Monday after he stops in Paris today.

On Saturday, Iraq expressed full satisfaction with proposals made by the UN chief to settle the disputes between Iraq and the UN inspectors. The proposals call for a comprehensive review of sanctions imposed on Iraq for eight years the progress made by Iraq in dismantling weapons, so as to push Baghdad to resume cooperation with UN inspectors.