Chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix said on Thursday Iraq had not cooperated sufficiently on disarmament and that if it did not change tack, his next report to the United Nations would starkly reflect his frustrations.
"What has not worked is for the Iraqi side either to present prohibited items for destruction or present evidence that they are finished," Blix told reporters after talks with British Prime Minister Tony Blair in London.
"We hope at this late hour...that they will come to a positive response. If they do not do that, then our report next Friday will not be what we would like it to be."
Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei will return to Baghdad at the weekend. They will then deliver a new report to the U.N. Security Council on February 14.
ElBaradei, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said Iraq must show "drastic change" in its cooperation with U.N. weapons inspectors.
"We need to show progress in our report," ElBaradei aired in London. "Our mission in Baghdad this weekend is crucial. We hope we will secure full, 100 percent cooperation on the part of Iraq."
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell told CBS' "60 Minutes II" in an interview that he would be watching the trip closely to see "whether they bring back anything of use for Security Council deliberations" next week. Powell added he is expecting to hear from the inspectors then "whether or not there has been any change in attitude" on the part of the Iraqis.
Meanwhile, Britain is to bolster its Royal Air Force (RAF) deployment in the Middle East over the next few weeks to 130 aircraft and more than 7,000 personnel. The deployment includes 100 warplanes and almost 30 helicopters.
British Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon said Thursday the new force would be "balanced and highly capable". The RAF already has eight Tornado GR4 ground attack aircraft based in Kuwait, half a dozen Tornado F3 fighters in Saudi Arabia, and four Jaguar ground attack aircraft based at Incirlik, Turkey, as well as support aircraft.
Once assembled, the force will include air defense and reconnaissance aircraft and air-refuelling tankers as well as Tornado, Jaguar and Harrier attack planes equipped with precision-guided weapons.
Britain has already announced the deployment of a force of some 30,000 troops and commandos, as well as a 17-vessel Navy task force. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
