Iraq Accepts U.N. Resolution

Iraq’s government unconditionally accepted the resolution in a letter Iraq’s U.N. ambassador, Mohammed Al-Douri, delivered to the Security Council. The ambassador also said his country was ready for the inspectors’ arrival.

“We choose always the peaceful ways and means,” Al-Douri told a news conference, “and this is part of our policy to protect our country, to protect the nation, to protect our region also from the threat of war, which is real.”

The ambassador said his government reiterated its contention that it does not possess any weapons of mass destruction.

“We explained in the letter the whole Iraqi position saying that Iraq has not and will not have any mass destruction weapons, so we are not worried about the inspectors when they will be back,” Al-Douri said.

Speaking before Al-Douri’s press conference, President Bush told reporters he would tolerate “no deception or deceit” from Saddam Hussein should Iraq accept the U.N. call to disarm.

“There’s no negotiations with Mr. Saddam Hussein. Those days are long gone, and so are the days of deceit and denial, and now it’s up to him,” the president said, adding, “I want to remind you all that inspectors are there to determine whether or not Saddam Hussein is willing to disarm. It’s his choice to make. And should he choose not to disarm, we will disarm him.”

Iraq’s decision comes a day after its legislature voted unanimously to reject the measure. The final decision on the resolution, however, was left to Saddam Hussein and his Revolutionary Command Council.

According to the resolution, weapons inspectors must have unfettered access to any site within Iraq suspected of producing biological, chemical or nuclear weapons.

The resolution, which the Security Council passed unanimously last Friday, said weapons inspections must begin within 45 days. Iraq had until Friday to respond to the measure and accept its demands.