Baghdad, 12 November 1997 (RFE/RL) - Iraq said today it would not comply with a United Nations resolution that would impose a travel ban on Iraqi officials responsible for disrupting U.N. weapons inspections.
The hardline stance came as Iraqi officials again barred American members of U.N. monitoring teams from taking part in inspections of Iraqi weapons sites. The UN in turn called off today's inspection.
Iraqi media report that Iraq's President Saddam Hussein met his advisers today.
In New York, the U.N. Security Council appeared ready to adopt a unanimous resolution today imposing the travel ban. No time was set for the vote.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf accused U.S. President Bill Clinton of using what the minister called "cheap excuses" to justify possible military action against Iraq. Sahaf said Iraq would not bow to any threats or demands.
The hardline stance came as Iraqi officials again barred American members of U.N. monitoring teams from taking part in inspections of Iraqi weapons sites. The UN in turn called off today's inspection.
Iraqi media report that Iraq's President Saddam Hussein met his advisers today.
In New York, the U.N. Security Council appeared ready to adopt a unanimous resolution today imposing the travel ban. No time was set for the vote.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf accused U.S. President Bill Clinton of using what the minister called "cheap excuses" to justify possible military action against Iraq. Sahaf said Iraq would not bow to any threats or demands.