Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister has said the United States is using accusations that Baghdad has weapons of mass destruction as a "pretext" to start a war.
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Mr Tareq Aziz: accusing the US
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"If they were genuine in their concerns they should be happy that Iraq and Mr Blix reached an agreement for resumption of inspections," Mr Tareq Aziz told a press conference in Turkey.
Mr Aziz was referring to the agreement reached yesterday between Iraqi and UN officials on a resumption of weapons inspections. The US rejected the agreement saying they first wanted a tough new UN Security Council resolution on the use of force against Saddam Hussein.
Mr Aziz also there was no need for a new UN resolution to cover the operations of arms inspectors in Iraq, describing it as "unacceptable".
"Iraq doesn't feel there's a need for a new resolution," Mr Aziz told the news conference in Ankara in response to a question about whether Iraq would comply with any new resolution that might be passed by the UN Security Council.
Earlier Mr Azizwarned that Iraq would fight "very effectively" if attacked by the United States.
He told Turkish NTV television in an interview that Iraq was determined and experienced in military action after the 1991 Gulf War. He said it was possible there would be great losses.
"Iraq is strong, even if the Americans attack Iraq we will fight very effectively," he said.