In the latest showdown between Iraq and the United Nations, the world body is pulling out a weapons-inspection team because Iraq refuses to allow video cameras to monitor missile tests, a senior U.N. official said Sunday.
There are growing fears the confrontation could lead to military strikes to force Iraq to comply with U.N. Security Council resolutions aimed at eliminating Baghdad's weapons of mass destruction.Iraq calls the camera issue a ploy to draw Baghdad into confrontation with the United Nations and justify continuing trade sanctions.
The United Nation has postponed a July 12 meeting with Iraqis to assess Baghdad's compliance with Persian Gulf War cease-fire resolutions, said Nikita Smidovich, the Russian head of the three-member U.N. team scheduled to leave Monday.
"We've waited for a month and there's no sign of compliance," he said.
"We see no reason why we should wait here indefinitely for the Iraqis to agree. If they want to continue with their present inconstant policy, it's their choice," Smidovich said.
Iraq has had repeated confrontations with the United Nations since April 1991 over efforts to dismantle weapons and prevent Iraq from developing nuclear capability.
President Clinton warned June 26 that the standoff in Iraq was "quite serious" and must be resolved soon.
The United States fired about 40 Tomahawk cruise missiles at a Baghdad factory linked to Iraq's nuclear weapons program Jan. 17 after Iraq blocked U.N. inspection flights. On June 27, U.S. forces fired 23 missiles at Iraq's intelligence headquarters in retaliation for Baghdad's alleged involvement in an attempt to assassinate former President Bush. At least eight people were killed when some rockets went off course and hit a residential neighborhood.
The Security Council adopted a resolution last month that said there would be "serious consequences" if Baghdad continued to reject installation of the surveillance cameras at two sites.
The departure of Smidovich's team may affect crucial talks that were to start Wednesday on a one-time sale of Iraqi oil.
Smidovich's team arrived in Baghdad June 4.