Baghdad, 20 December 2002 (RFE/RL) -- A senior Iraqi official said today the United States comments on Iraq's weapons declaration were an exaggerated response. General Hussam Mohammad said political aims led the U.S. to call the Iraqi weapons declaration a "material breach" of the United Nations Security Council resolution. Mohammad said the International Atomic Energy Agency and UN weapons inspectors are the right organizations to analyze the document.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair said today it was still not clear if Iraq had indeed committed a material breach but told British troops to prepare for possible war. French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin said it must first be determined whether Iraq actually possesses weapons of mass destruction. German Defense Minister Peter Struck said there is still an opportunity for Iraq to provide the missing details from its declaration.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair said today it was still not clear if Iraq had indeed committed a material breach but told British troops to prepare for possible war. French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin said it must first be determined whether Iraq actually possesses weapons of mass destruction. German Defense Minister Peter Struck said there is still an opportunity for Iraq to provide the missing details from its declaration.