Wayne Mapp National Foreign Affairs Spokesperson

25 September 2002

Report proves urgent need to disarm Iraq

The evidence released by British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, confirms the urgent need to get weapons inspectors back into Iraq as soon as possible, says National's Foreign Affairs spokesman, Wayne Mapp.

"Tony Blair's report obviously shows that Iraq is a very serious threat to world security. Despite Saddam Hussein's decision to allow weapons inspections to resume unhindered, the international community should be very suspicious of his programmes and his motives.

"There is absolutely no doubt that Iraq made the decision to admit weapons inspectors under serious threat of military force. The threat of military pressure has to remain to ensure that Iraq complies with UN resolutions and disarms.

"It is dangerous to accept blanket denials from Iraq about its weapons of mass destruction programme. It has a long track record of openly defying the international community, and this report claims proof that its chemical and biological weapons programme is growing.

"The international community must push to have weapons inspectors back in Iraq, unhindered, as soon as possible," says Dr Mapp.

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