Iraqi President Saddam Hussein urged his people on Thursday to support the new U.N. arms inspections as a welcome opportunity to disprove American allegations that his government still harbors weapons of mass destruction.
In a holiday greeting to Iraqi leaders, Saddam said he agreed to the inspections, in which one of his own palaces was searched, "to keep our people out of harm's way" in the face of U.S. threats.
Saddam spoke at a gathering of the leadership of his Baath Party and the Iraqi military on the first morning of the three-day Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr. He denounced Washington as an "unjust, arrogant, debased American tyranny." Then, turning to U.S. allegations that Iraq retains chemical and biological weapons, he said Iraqis wanted to disprove those claims.
"Some might claim that we didn't give them a proper chance to resist, with tangible evidence, the American allegations," Saddam said. "We shall provide them with such a chance," he said.
Alluding to eventual war, Saddam declared: "We shall take the stand that befits our people, principles and mission. Victory will be yours." (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
