Butler: I did not spy on Iraq for the US

UNSCOM chief Richard Butler responded with strong denials today to US media reports that the UN organization for investigating Iraqi weapons of mass destruction spied on the Iraqi government and gave the information to the United States.

Butler stated that the United States was one of several countries assisting UNSCOM in its duties. In every case, he said, UNSCOM used US assistance only "in the pursuit of our disarmament mandate."

He said that all inspection operations were required to have a disarmament purpose consistent with UNSCOM's mandate. He said that assistance UNSCOM received was used for "our legal purposes alone."

"Have we facilitated spying? Are we spies? Absolutely not," Butler said.

Iraqi officials have often referred to Butler and his agency as a spies.

Asked whether UNSCOM was given any equipment that could be used for eavesdropping on the Iraqi government, Butler said, "None of it includes eavesdropping equipment," adding after a slight pause, "Our office in Iraq is closed."