Saddam Hussein sent a message to Iraq's parliament on Saturday saying he had decided to accept the terms of a harsh U.N. resolution to disarm to avert a U.S. attack.
The Iraqi leader said that he hoped this decision would prove that Iraq was not concealing weapons of mass destruction.
In a letter addressed to parliament, Saddam said he had mulled the MPs' recommendation that Baghdad reject the resolution, but had chosen to allow arms inspectors back to undermine the United States and foil its plans for war.
"We hope that the method we have used will achieve the stated aim of those with no evil intentions in the Security Council, and that is that they know the truth as it is: Iraq is devoid of weapons of mass destruction, and they can now work on ending the embargo and the tyrannical sanctions."
The letter, dated November 12, was read out by the National Assembly speaker at Saturday's parliamentary session. It was also broadcast on Iraqi TV and carried by the Iraqi news agency, INA.
In his letter, Saddam told MPs he had decided to allow the inspectors to return because "your enemy, the Zionist coalition with the American administration, and all those devils that follow them, have chosen this time, after sabre rattling...to fight our heroic and struggling people." (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
