Washington, 11 November 1997 (RFE/RL) - U.S. President Bill Clinton says the United Nations must show its determination to not be intimidated by Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
Clinton told reporters yesterday that the U.S. is awaiting a UN review of a report by UN inspectors who have been blocked by Iraq from carrying out UN-mandated monitoring of Iraqi weapons programs. The UN told Iraq to eliminate its weapons of mass destruction after Iraq was defeated in the Gulf War of 1991. However, Iraq has prevented inspection teams from doing their work because of Iraqi objections to the presence of Americans on the monitoring teams.
Clinton says the next step in the confrontation with Iraq is a very strong resolution from the UN declaring determination to resume the inspection program followed by a demonstration of determination to start the inspections again.