Pressure builds to give UN arms experts more time
( 2003-01-26 14:05 ) (7 )

Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Saturday he had extensively discussed the use of Turkish bases for a possible attack on Iraq, as pressure built to allow UN arms inspectors more time to do their job.

The inspectors are due to make a key report to the UN Security Council on Monday on progress in their search for banned nuclear, chemical and biological weapons Washington says Baghdad possesses. Iraq denies having such weapons programs.

In Washington, USofficials said the report would kick off a final phase of consultations as the United States neared a decision on toppling Iraqi President Saddam Hussein by force if necessary.

President Bush discussed the standoff with Iraq with the leaders of Italy and Japan as Washington stepped up a diplomatic offensive ahead of the report. He also discussed North Korea with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, a White House spokesman said.

Greece, which holds the rotating presidency of the European Union , said there was an emerging consensus in the 15-nation bloc that the inspectors should be given more time if chief UN inspector Hans Blix and International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei requested it.

"Obviously there is a consensus that, yes, we should give them the necessary time if they ask," Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou told a news conference at the World Economic Forum meeting at the Swiss resort of Davos.

Papandreou said he expected EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels on Monday to declare full support for UN efforts to deal with the problem of Iraq's suspected weapons of mass destruction and urge a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

HIZBOLLAH WARNING TO US

In Damascus, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, leader of the Lebanese Islamic militant group Hizbollah, warned Washington an attack on Iraq would lead to an Arab war against the United States. He was speaking at a conference on boycotting Israel and its allies.

"If this war broke out it would not be over in a year or two," he said arguing that no military power can win a war against Arabs because they would fight Americans in a fashion similar to the Palestinian uprising and the Lebanese resistance against Israeli occupation troops.

Powell said he had had "an extensive discussion" on the use of Turkish bases in a meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and ruling AKP party leader Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the Davos gathering.

Asked if a deadline for agreement came up during the 75-minute meeting, Powell said: "We didn't discuss deadlines. They have a good sense of the timing that's involved.

"They understand our needs and I have a complete understanding of their political situation and their parliamentary situation, and we're in close contact with each other."

Gul called the talks "fruitful; and useful," adding: "War is nobody's choice, we want peace. But of course at the same time the preparation for all kinds of scenarios is very normal."

USsources in Washington said the United States wanted to put at least 15,000 troops in Turkey to open a "northern front" against Baghdad in the event of war.

In return for Turkish cooperation, Washington was offering an economic and military aid package worth nearly $14 billion over three years.

US ACCUSATIONS

USofficials have already accused Iraq of unacceptable "willful defiance" in what they said was its refusal to allow private interviews with scientists. They cited what they said were other violations proving Baghdad's unwillingness to disarm.

"Events will drive the timeline regarding inspectors," one official said. "The question is not timing, its compliance. The (report on Monday) begins a final phase of consultations and what that means is a decision will have to come soon."

On his way to Davos, Powell told reporters at least a dozen nations would back an attack on Iraq, even without a fresh UN resolution.

Powell also told reporters on the flight to Davos that potential USallies would prefer a new council resolution authorizing force against Iraq, but would not insist on one.

"We would not be alone, that's for sure. I could rattle off at least a dozen off memory, and I think that there will be more," Powell said.

In Baghdad, an Iraqi thought to be a scientist visited the hotel housing UN arms inspectors on Saturday, a day after Washington accused Iraq of blocking private meetings between scientists and UN arms experts.

He left after 90 minutes alone, carrying documents and refusing to speak to reporters.

But UN inspectors said they had failed to persuade two Iraqi scientists and an expert to agree to private interviews.

USand British aircraft hit two targets on Friday and Saturday in southern Iraq's "no fly" zone, set up after the 1991 war to protect Shi'ite Muslims in the south from Baghdad's forces. A similar zone protecting Kurds exists in the north.

Iraqi Parliament Speaker Saadoun Hammadi told reporters in New Delhi his country would "use every method to inflict damage and casualties against those who invade our country."