From owner-imap@chumbly.math.missouri.edu Thu Feb 6 11:00:33 2003
Date: Wed, 5 Feb 2003 11:37:27 -0600 (CST)
Organization: South Movement
From: Dave Muller <davemull@alphalink.com.au>
Subject: [southnews] UK report rejects Iraqi al-Qaeda link
Article: 151284
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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