Iraq is prepared to provide the United States with proof it no longer harbors any secret program to build nuclear weapons or possesses biological or chemical weapons, a foreign ministry statement said Sunday.
"If the United States has any doubts on the fact that Iraq is exempt from any such activity, installation or program related to weapons of mass destruction, they can show (Iraq) their suspicions, questions or information, " the ministry said.
"Iraq will clarify the truth on this subject," it made clear, according to AFP.
The statement followed US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's vow Sunday at a United States base in Kuwait to pursue the "war on terrorism" until states that abetted terrorism and sought weapons of mass destruction were stopped.
However, the Iraqi ministry insisted Washington's questions be submitted via a "relevant international organization designated for non-proliferation... or through their representation in Baghdad or the Iraqi diplomatic representation in Washington."
The two countries broke off ties following Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait, but maintain interest sections in their respective capitals through third countries.
Baghdad is rumored to be the target of a planned US invasion as part of Washington's "war on terrorism."
The United States has repeatedly called on Baghdad to readmit United Nations arms inspectors after a three-year lull to verify that it no longer has weapons of mass destruction. (albawaba.com)
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