We’ve done all we can to avoid war threat, says Sabri

IRAQ yesterday said it was up to Washington and London to avoid a military showdown and accused US Secretary of State Colin Powell of lying when he charged Baghdad with developing banned weapons.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri said Baghdad had done all it could to convince the world it had no banned weapons and provided “super cooperation” with UN weapons inspectors.

“The ball is in their court. We have done everything possible to let this country and this region avoid the danger of war by the warmongers in Washington and their ally (British Prime Minister) Tony Blair,” Mr Sabri told a news conference in Baghdad.