Inspectors present mixed report
Security Council remains divided
UNITED NATIONS (CNN) --The United Nations Security Council appeared to remain divided over Iraq Friday, following a crucial report from the top U.N. weapons inspectors, who said they had not found any weapons of mass destruction during their search in Iraq
Hans Blix, executive chairman of the U.N. Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission, and Mohamed ElBaradei, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency told the council that they were still investigating and had not ruled out the possibility that Iraq does possess chemical, biological or nuclear weapons.
After the presentations, the members of the council appeared to be maintaining their positions -- with France China and Russia calling for more time, while the United States, Britain and Spain said Iraq was not complying with U.N. Security Council Resolution 1441.
French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin said that it was clear that inspections were working and that there was not yet any justification for using force against Iraq. (Speakers following Blix and ElBaradei)
"Inspections are producing results. ... The option of inspections has not been taken to the end," de Villepin said. "The use of force would be so fraught with risk for people, for the region and for international stability that it should only be envisioned as a last resort."
Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan also called for more time.
However, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said that the progress that Blix and ElBaradei had reported was simply process and not substance.
"These are all tricks that are being played on us," Powell said.
Progress reported, but questions remain
Blix said perhaps the most important problem facing the council is determining what happened to stores of anthrax, deadly VX nerve agent, and long-range missiles that Iraq previously was known to have. Iraq has not provided adequate material to prove what happened to them, he said.
It is Baghdad's responsibility, "not the task of inspectors," to find such evidence, he said.
Blix said one document suggests that "some 1,000 tons of chemical agent were unaccounted for.
"Another matter, and one of great significance, is that many proscribed weapons and items are not accounted for," Blix said. "One must not jump to the conclusion that they exist. However, that possibility is also not excluded. If they exist, they should be presented for destruction."
He said that Iraq's al-Samoud 2 missile exceeded the range of 93 miles (150 kilometers) allowed by U.N. resolutions. Iraqi officials have said the missile did not yet have a guidance system, which would reduce its range.
Iraqi cooperation "will speed up the process," ElBaradei said, although it is possible to complete inspections without cooperation.
ElBaradei stopped short of saying Iraq was not currently cooperating.
He said that Iraq has provided immediate access to all inspection locations and that four Iraqi scientists have been interviewed in private.
Blix said he had seen no evidence that Iraq had advance knowledge of the inspectors' plans.
Blix also said that the satellite photographs of a declared site Powell presented to the council last week could have shown routine activity, rather than the movement of illicit materials.
He also said that screening on chemical and biological samples taken from suspected sights has been consistent with Iraq's declaration.
Iraqi presidential decree
Iraq's National Assembly also held what it called an "extraordinary session" Friday ahead of the report, Iraqi officials said.
Before that meeting, Saddam issued a decree banning weapons of mass destruction. (Full story)
The decree prohibits nongovernment importation and production of biological, chemical and nuclear weapons.
Inspectors have not had an opportunity to study that decree, Blix said. But ElBaradei called it a "step in the right direction."
The United States said it places no value on Saddam's decree.
The United States and Britain are preparing a new Security Council resolution that, in the words of one U.S. official involved in the discussions, makes it clear "the time has come to enforce [Resolution] 1441." The exact language is being hammered out between Washington and London.
While a slim chance exists the new resolution could be presented Friday, it is more likely to be introduced early next week, the official said.
For more on latest developments, see CNN.com's Iraq Tracker.
Security Council remains divided
UNITED NATIONS (CNN) --The United Nations Security Council appeared to remain divided over Iraq Friday, following a crucial report from the top U.N. weapons inspectors, who said they had not found any weapons of mass destruction during their search in Iraq
Hans Blix, executive chairman of the U.N. Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission, and Mohamed ElBaradei, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency told the council that they were still investigating and had not ruled out the possibility that Iraq does possess chemical, biological or nuclear weapons.
After the presentations, the members of the council appeared to be maintaining their positions -- with France China and Russia calling for more time, while the United States, Britain and Spain said Iraq was not complying with U.N. Security Council Resolution 1441.
French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin said that it was clear that inspections were working and that there was not yet any justification for using force against Iraq. (Speakers following Blix and ElBaradei)
"Inspections are producing results. ... The option of inspections has not been taken to the end," de Villepin said. "The use of force would be so fraught with risk for people, for the region and for international stability that it should only be envisioned as a last resort."
Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan also called for more time.
However, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said that the progress that Blix and ElBaradei had reported was simply process and not substance.
"These are all tricks that are being played on us," Powell said.
Progress reported, but questions remain
Blix said perhaps the most important problem facing the council is determining what happened to stores of anthrax, deadly VX nerve agent, and long-range missiles that Iraq previously was known to have. Iraq has not provided adequate material to prove what happened to them, he said.
It is Baghdad's responsibility, "not the task of inspectors," to find such evidence, he said.
Blix said one document suggests that "some 1,000 tons of chemical agent were unaccounted for.
"Another matter, and one of great significance, is that many proscribed weapons and items are not accounted for," Blix said. "One must not jump to the conclusion that they exist. However, that possibility is also not excluded. If they exist, they should be presented for destruction."
He said that Iraq's al-Samoud 2 missile exceeded the range of 93 miles (150 kilometers) allowed by U.N. resolutions. Iraqi officials have said the missile did not yet have a guidance system, which would reduce its range.
Iraqi cooperation "will speed up the process," ElBaradei said, although it is possible to complete inspections without cooperation.
ElBaradei stopped short of saying Iraq was not currently cooperating.
He said that Iraq has provided immediate access to all inspection locations and that four Iraqi scientists have been interviewed in private.
Blix said he had seen no evidence that Iraq had advance knowledge of the inspectors' plans.
Blix also said that the satellite photographs of a declared site Powell presented to the council last week could have shown routine activity, rather than the movement of illicit materials.
He also said that screening on chemical and biological samples taken from suspected sights has been consistent with Iraq's declaration.
Iraqi presidential decree
Iraq's National Assembly also held what it called an "extraordinary session" Friday ahead of the report, Iraqi officials said.
Before that meeting, Saddam issued a decree banning weapons of mass destruction. (Full story)
The decree prohibits nongovernment importation and production of biological, chemical and nuclear weapons.
Inspectors have not had an opportunity to study that decree, Blix said. But ElBaradei called it a "step in the right direction."
The United States said it places no value on Saddam's decree.
The United States and Britain are preparing a new Security Council resolution that, in the words of one U.S. official involved in the discussions, makes it clear "the time has come to enforce [Resolution] 1441." The exact language is being hammered out between Washington and London.
While a slim chance exists the new resolution could be presented Friday, it is more likely to be introduced early next week, the official said.
For more on latest developments, see CNN.com's Iraq Tracker.
