Iraq rebuked as UN monitors depart

BAGHDAD - The US Secretary of State Warren Christopher warned yesterday that an Iraqi refusal to allow UN cameras to monitor its weapons programmes might lead to another confrontation between Washington and Baghdad.

'It's a bad sign that our inspectors are having to leave there' without the means to check Iraqi compliance with the UN ban on weapons of mass destruction, imposed after Iraq's Gulf War defeat, Mr Christopher said.

Asked whether the United States might be heading for another confrontation with Baghdad, Mr Christoper said: 'Well, we could be. . .Our next step would be discussions with our allies.'

Earlier ther UN announced that it was withdrawing its arms inspectors from Iraq after failing to persuade Baghdad to permit camera monitoring of missile test sites. A team of UN arms inspectors has been stranded in Baghdad since 4 June, waiting for Iraq to agree to the installation.

Nikita Smidovich, a senior inspector, said: 'We have given them enough time. We do not stay here for ever. . . The Security Council told them in plain words that it is a breach of the Gulf War ceasefire.'

The UN has warned Iraq of serious consequences if it persists in its reluctance to comply with the conditions imposed after the defeat of President Saddam Hussein's army by a multinational force in the 1991 war.

Iraq says it does not reject the installation outright, but wants it included in an overall discussion of arms control it intends to conduct with the commission on 12 July. But the commission has made clear it will not talk to the Iraqis if the outstanding issues are unresolved.

Mr Smidovich said the Security Council had a mandate to require Iraq to allow the installation immediately. He did not say whether he would be taking the two US-made cameras with him today.

The remote cameras were to be installed at the sites of Yam al-Azim and al-Rafah 65km (40 miles) south and southwest of the capital. They would have ensured that no tests for banned rockets took place there, allowing UN staff to keep watch from Baghdad.

(Photograph omitted)