Iraq challenges Bush to a formal duel to settle dispute

IRAQ yesterday challenged US President George Bush to a duel with the winner taking the spoils.

"Bush wants to attack the whole Iraq, the army and the infrastructure," Iraqi Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan said.

He suggested Bush faces Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in a formal duel with their vice presidents as their seconds and the weapon of their choice. "In this way we are saving the American and the Iraqi people," he said.

Ramadan said he was not surprised the US Congress supported a resolution that would allow Bush to use force against Iraq. It "makes no difference," he said in Baghdad.

And he criticised US efforts to delay the return of UN weapons inspectors to Iraq until the Security Council adopts tougher measures.

"The Americans were surprised by the agreement reached by Iraq and the United Nations. So their reaction was unbalanced," he said, referring to Tuesday's deal between chief UN arms inspector Hans Blix and Iraq.

Ramadan said UN Secretary General Kofi Annan would be the referee. The duel, he added, should be held on neutral territory.

"The American president should specify a group, and we will specify a group and choose neutral ground with Kofi Annan as referee and use one weapon with a president against a president, a vice president against a vice president, and a minister against a minister in a duel," Ramadan said. "In this way we are saving the American and the Iraqi people."

Iraq has two vice presidents.

Ramadan did not say whether he or Taha Muhie-eldin Marouf would take on Dick Cheney.

Ramadan, wearing a green military uniform and a black beret, made his remarks without giving any outward sign whether he was joking, although reporters who were present detected a note of irony in his voice.