U.N. Arms Inspector Seeks Iraqi Compliance
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BAGHDAD — The chief U.N. arms inspector made a new bid Wednesday to persuade Iraq to allow his teams to search suspected weapons sites.
U.N. sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed a meeting between inspector Rolf Ekeus and Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tarik Aziz but declined to give details.
Diplomats believe Iraq is still concealing data and equipment linked to its clandestine arsenal in violation of the 1991 agreement that ended the Persian Gulf War.
Ekeus’ visit comes one week after a team of weapons inspectors was blocked from entering five suspected weapons sites in and around Baghdad.
Under the war-ending accord, a special U.N. commission was created to oversee the destruction of long-range missiles and to ensure that Iraq ended its nuclear, biological and chemical weapons programs.
The U.N. Security Council has demanded unconditional access for the inspection teams. Baghdad has yet to formally respond.
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