President Bush Calls for Saddam Hussein to Comply with UN Resolution - 2002-11-08

President Bush says that if Saddam Hussein, the President of Iraq, does not fully comply with the UN Security Council resolution that orders Baghdad to dismantle its weapons of mass destruction, the United States and other countries will take such action on his behalf. Mr. Bush raised this issue shortly after the unanimous approval of the UN Security Council resolution. This resolution was passed with fifteen votes in favor and no opposing votes at the UN headquarters. Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary-General, states that the aim is to disarm Iraq within the framework of the organization's resolutions. The new resolution, which was discussed for weeks, allows UN weapons inspectors to search anywhere they wish, including the palaces of Saddam Hussein, the President of Iraq. The resolution states that if Baghdad does not comply with the UN's demands for disarmament, it should expect severe consequences. In London, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Iraq should have no doubt that if it ignores the will of the UN, it will be disarmed by force. Mohammed Al-Douri, Iraq's ambassador to the UN, says Baghdad needs to study the resolution before deciding whether to accept it. Iraq has seven days to accept the Security Council's decision and must provide a comprehensive report on its weapons program within thirty days. In Paris, French President Jacques Chirac stated that the unanimous vote of the Security Council gives Iraq the opportunity to disarm peacefully. The response from Javier Solana, the EU's foreign affairs chief, and German officials has also been positive.