The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) states that only Iraq's full cooperation with United Nations weapons inspectors can prevent a military attack on Iraq. Mohamed ElBaradei told Reuters that Iraq still has the opportunity to exonerate itself. Mr. ElBaradei made these comments regarding Iraq's weapons and the issue of war and peace as Hans Blix, head of the UN weapons inspection team, prepares to submit his report today on the quality and extent of Iraq's compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1441. On the other hand, President Bush expresses hope that the Security Council will maintain its credibility by insisting that Iraq disarm its weapons of mass destruction, or face severe consequences. Nevertheless, recent assessments indicate that the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, each holding veto power, remain divided on the issue of war and peace.
Only Iraq's Full Cooperation with Weapons Inspectors Can Prevent Military Attack - 2003-02-14
The head of the IAEA, Mohamed ElBaradei, emphasizes that Iraq must fully cooperate with UN weapons inspectors to avoid military action. President Bush insists on disarmament to maintain the Security Council's credibility. The situation remains tense as the permanent members of the Security Council are divided on the issue.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
IAEA head Mohamed ElBaradei emphasized Iraq's need to fully cooperate with UN weapons inspectors to avoid military action. President Bush urged the UN Security Council to enforce disarmament or face consequences.
- Mohamed ElBaradei stressed Iraq's cooperation to prevent military action.
- UN Security Council is divided on the issue of military intervention in Iraq.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The situation is part of the broader context of the Iraq disarmament crisis, where Iraq was accused of possessing weapons of mass destruction.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 85%