Powell accuses Iraq of telling lies
US Secretary of State Colin Powell
Secretary of State Colin Powell, after rejecting the weapons declaration Iraq submitted to the U.N. Security Council as "a new lie", laid out the path for the United States as it continues to increase pressure on Iraq to disarm.
"First, we must continue to audit and examine the Iraqi declaration to understand the full extent of Iraq's failure to meet its disclosure obligations," he said after dismissing the document as "a catalog of recycled information and systematic omissions".
"Second, the inspections should give high priority to conducting interviews with scientists and other witnesses outside of Iraq where they can speak freely. Under the terms of [Security Council] Resolution 1441, Iraq is obligated -- it is their obligation to make such witnesses available to [U.N. weapons] inspectors," Powell said at a news conference.
"Third, the inspectors should intensify
their efforts inside Iraq. The United States, and, I hope, other
council members, will provide the inspectors with every possible
assistance; all the support they need to succeed in their crucial
mission," he said.