On the BBC website this morning: <<<< UK report rejects Iraqi al-Qaeda link
Saddam says he will defeat any military attack There are no current links between the Iraqi regime and the al-Qaeda network, according to an official British intelligence report seen by BBC News. The top secret document, written by defence intelligence staff three weeks ago, says there has been contact between the two in the past. UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw told the BBC on Wednesday the case against Saddam Hussein is based on his defiance of UN demands that he disarm, not on alleged links with terrorism. BBC correspondents say the report raises questions about what is expected to be a key strand of the US case being made against Iraq at the Security Council later on Wednesday. US officials say secretary of state Colin Powell will present fresh evidence of Baghdad's non-compliance with UN disarmament resolutions at the meeting, specially convened at Washington's request. Analysts say the reaction he receives at the Council is likely to determine whether or not the US seeks a new resolution on disarming Iraq or embarks on military action on the basis of existing resolutions. Undermined The UK intelligence report said a fledgling alliance foundered due to ideological differences between the militant Islamic group and the secular nationalist regime. Mr Straw told the BBC's Today programme that he had "seen no evidence which directly links Iraq to al-Qaeda, but I would not be surprised if it exists". He said he did not know if he had seen the document our correspondent saw. But, he said, "the Iraqi regime appears to be allowing a permissive environment in which al-Qaeda can operate, and we have seen links between al-Qaeda and people in Iraq." "We do not know the extent of those links," he said. Saddam Hussein himself continues to deny harbouring illegal weapons of mass destruction and links to international terror groups. Iraq's al-Haraq newspaper predicted that Mr Powell would have nothing but lies for the UN. Mr Powell has dampened expectations of presenting a "smoking gun" to the Security Council but insists his case will still be compelling. 'Uphill battle' Nonetheless, some new evidence is expected on Wednesday, the BBC's State Department correspondent, Jon Leyne, says. Powell is out to prove Iraq cannot be trusted It will take the form of a multi-media presentation, including pictures and audio allegedly showing Iraqi officials deceiving UN weapons inspectors and gloating over their work. US officials will be honing the evidence right up to the last minute. Mr Powell is expected to attend the meeting accompanied by CIA Director George Tenet. After the presentation, Mr Powell will hold one-to-one meetings with other members of the 15-strong Security Council in an effort to win their support. Our correspondents say that, unless he really springs some surprises, it is still looking like an uphill battle for the top US diplomat. Limited patience If the prospect looms of a marathon negotiating session like that which preceded the last UN resolution on Iraq, the Bush administration could decide that the existing resolution gives it grounds enough for military action. Al-Qaeda is widely blamed for the 11 September attacks The Iraqi president has protested his innocence in an interview shown by the UK's Channel Four television. On weapons of mass destruction, he said it was "easy to work out if Iraq has them or not" and dismissed the idea of links with al-Qaeda. >>>> KH ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- Keith Hudson,6 Upper Camden Place, Bath BA1 5HX, England Tel:01225 312622/444881; Fax:01225 447727; E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________ Futurework mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://scribe.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework
