Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri today accused US Secretary of State Colin Powell of lying and reiterated Iraq was free of any banned weapons.
Mr Sabri said Mr Powell "repeated lies that no one believes anymore" when he (Mr Powell) accused Iraq over the weekend of developing weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
Mr Sabri said he hoped today's report by chief UN weapons inspectors to the Security Council would confirm Iraq was free of banned weapons and find its co-operation with inspections was "super".
Mr Sabri also said Iraq had no links to the al-Qaeda terror network.
White House chief of staff Mr Andrew Card yesterday linked Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein to the al-Qaeda structure, and Mr Powell said Saddam had "clear ties to terrorist groups including al-Qaeda".
Agencies