Baghdad attacks French foreign minister's statements

Iraq reacted strongly today to statements made by French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine, which it depicted as being impudent.

Vedrine said, "If the international sanctions imposed on Iraq are uplifted, Baghdad will continue being a threat to international security," and he promised to work to apply the international inspection system on Baghdad even after the end of the sanctions.

An Iraqi source said Vedrine's statements contradict the spirit of positive relations between Iraq and France, and that it is not new that Vedrine issues such declarations which contradict with his country's policy toward Iraq.

The UN Security Council (headed by the veto wielding US, Russia, China, France, and UK) has been attempting to reach a consensus on the removal of the Iraqi sanctions and on establishing a weapon's monitoring inspection regime.

The Iraqi sources said, "Vedrine's declarations are because of the Iraqi rejection to raised drafts at the Security Council," adding that the refusal comes because Baghdad did not participate in forming these drafts.