COMMENTS BY JACK STRAW
UK FOREIGN SECRETARY

UK FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

September 17 , 2002

'Iraq has a long history of playing games. People are bound to be sceptical. This apparent offer to allow weapons inspectors to return 'without conditions' comes only four days after Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister said precisely the opposite.

'Whatever it means, this offer has only come through the determination of the international community to stand firm against Saddam Hussein's threat.

'We must remain steadfast and keep up the pressure on Iraq by continuing to work on a new UN resolution.

'Iraq knows what it must do: grant unfettered access to UN weapons inspectors and comply with all the obligations placed on it by the UN. The goal here is to force Saddam to comply with international law and bring an end to his weapons of mass destruction.'