Iraq on Monday lashed out at the Azores summit, saying it was a meeting of "international outlaws."
Iraq's Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf launched a verbal attack on the allied leaders of the United States, Britain, Spain and Portugal over their stance at Sunday's summit.
"The talk that came out from the summit of international outlaws ... shows that they are in a hurry to commit the foolery of aggression on Iraq," he told reporters.
"We have done everything and we shall continue to cooperation with all efforts in order to avert the aggression on our country, but if they give us no other alternative but to defend our country, we will," he said.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri, speaking to reporters late Sunday in Iraq's first reaction to President George W. Bush's blunt warning at the Azores summit, said an "inferno" awaited any invaders.
Sabri said the three leaders had "isolated themselves after they failed to win any support in the world. They spoke about their colonial and military project which is rejected and condemned by the whole world."
"We are ready to bury aggressors in Iraq's deserts," he said. "Whoever sets foot in Iraq will not leave it safe. Whoever comes to Iraq will find an inferno awaiting him," he said.
Sabri also complained about the U.S. and British military buildup in Kuwait and breaches in the fence along the Iraq-Kuwait border, which have been reported by U.N. military observers.
"In light of these flagrant threats and violations of the U.N. resolutions, the Iraqi authorities will take the necessary measures to exercise the legitimate right of self-defense," Sabri said.
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
