Saddam Hussein: Iraq Will Resist UN Order to Destroy Al-Sumoud 2 Missiles - 2003-02-25

Saddam Hussein has stated that Iraq will resist the United Nations' order to destroy part of its missile arsenal, but one of the senior advisors to the President of Iraq says this order is still under review. According to CBS News, the network recorded a television interview with the Iraqi leader on Monday, in which he claimed that Baghdad lacks missiles with ranges exceeding the limits set by the United Nations. The Iraqi leader strongly emphasized that Iraq will resist the UN command to destroy its Al-Sumoud 2 missiles. However, Major General Omar Saadi, a senior military advisor, stated that his government has not yet made a decision on this matter. General Saadi mentioned that he has not seen the CBS interview with President Saddam and reports indicate that the Iraqis have prevented the broadcast of this interview. Hours after an American television network reported that Saddam Hussein, the leader of Iraq, stated he would resist the UN orders to destroy part of Iraq's missile arsenal, President Bush reiterated that Iraq must be completely disarmed. The US President told reporters that he hopes the UN Security Council will issue a new resolution declaring that Iraq has grossly violated the UN disarmament orders, but added that the new resolution would not necessitate military action by the United States. Hans Blix, the head of UN weapons inspections, stated that he would not consider this interview as an official response from Iraq.