Iraqi expert in UN arms interview

A SENIOR Iraqi official said last night that an Iraqi weapons’ expert had submitted to a private interview with UN arms inspectors – a sign of progress in deadlock over weapons inspections.

Presidential adviser Lieutenant General Amer al-Saadi said that an Iraqi expert the first had submitted to a private, unmonitored interview with the inspectors. Such private interviews have been a key demand of the inspectors.

"One of our scientists is being interviewed alone, as we speak," he said in Baghdad.

He gave no details of the interview, and it was not immediately confirmed by UN officials.

In a lengthy meeting with journalists, al-Saadi analysed in detail US Secretary-of-State Colin Powell's slide and audio presentation to the UN Security Council, and denounced it for the murkiness of its sources.

He said Powell was: "Quoting, 'our sources,' 'our sources,' 'our sources,' without any convincing evidence, as if that in itself is enough to convince the world."

He also denied Iraq was connected to al-Qaida terrorists.

Al-Saadi, a chemist who once headed Iraq's advanced weapons programmes, took each of Mr Powell's assertions and presented a contrary explanation to what the American secretary told assembled foreign ministers and diplomats in New York.

"We will send a detailed letter to the Security Council to be the official Iraqi response to all allegations to rebut Powell's speech point by point," Mr al-Saadi said.

"Regarding the audio tapes I will not grace them with any more comments. They were below the level of a superpower One can fabricate anything in this regard and they are no evidence at all," he added.

He said the allegations were "outrageous and not convincing. Without any convincing evidence the allegations were more outrageous".

"We have military secrets connected with our right to self defence, nothing more," Mr al-Saadi said.

He said "the purpose of the show that went on at the Security council was mainly for home consumption for the uninformed," he said.