Dateline: 11/08/02

The 15-member United Nations Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution demanding Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein immediately disarm his nation and fully cooperate with U.N. arms inspectors, or face military attack. [Full text of UN Resolution]

The resolution authorizes the U.S., after informing the U.N. Security Council, to launch a military strike against Iraq should the Baghdad government take any action seen as hindering U.N. arms inspection teams in their efforts to discover weapons of mass destruction.

Bush - 'This time we mean it.'
Commenting on passage of the resolution, President Bush stated, "If we're to avert war, all nations must continue to pressure Saddam Hussein to accept this resolution and to comply with his obligations."

"This time would be the 17th time that we expect Saddam Hussein to disarm; this time we mean it," Said Bush. "This time, it's for real."

Arms Inspectors to Return to Iraq
According to chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix, members of his team would be in Iraq within 10 days, after which they will have 45 days to begin the search and another 60 days in which to submit findings to the U.N.

Earlier this week, the Bush administration agreed to remove controversial wording from the resolution that would have allowed the United States to send its own inspectors and armed troops along with the U.N. arms team.

Iraq Must Not Hinder Arms Inspectors
Should any false statements by Iraqi officials or other forms of interference be reported by the arms inspection team, the resolution calls for Security Council to immediately "consider the situation and the need for full compliance with all the relevant council resolutions in order to restore international peace and security." 

Iraq must allow the arms inspectors "immediate, unimpeded, unconditional and unrestricted access" to all "presidential sites and compounds," which includes Saddam Hussein's palace and presidential offices. Iraq had previously denied arms inspectors access to these sites.

The resolution also allows international arms inspectors, "free and unrestricted use and landing of fixed- and rotary -winged aircraft, including manned and unmanned reconnaissance vehicles," in searching for evidence of weapons of mass destruction.

Agencies Assigned to Search for Iraqi Weapons
The United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC), is the main body created by the U.N. to carry out its mandate to disarm Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction, and to monitor and verify Iraq’s compliance with its obligations not to reacquire weapons prohibited to it by the Security Council.

Representatives of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), located in Vienna, will lead the team specifically assigned to search for evidence of nuclear weapons.

U.N. Spells Out Case Against Iraq
On the first two of its pages, the resolution recounts at least 10 of the previous resolutions passed by the U.N. against Iraq between 1990 and Nov. 2001, and goes on to deplore "the fact that Iraq has not provided an accurate, full, final, and complete disclosure, as required," by those resolutions, "of all aspects of its programmes to develop weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles with a range greater than one hundred and fifty kilometres."

The resolution then concludes by reminding the Baghdad government, "that the [Security] Council has repeatedly warned Iraq that it will face serious consequences as a result of its continued violations of its obligations." 

Kofi Annan Urges Iraq to Comply
When asked prior to its passage if the resolution would be effective in preventing war, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, replied, "I think for the [Security] Council the issue is disarmament. If Iraq cooperates and the inspectors can get that work done, I think the Council will be less inclined to think in terms of military action."

Immediately after final passage of the resolution, Annan stated, "I urge the Iraqi leadership for the sake of its own people and for the sake of world security and world order to seize this opportunity and thereby begin to end the isolation and suffering of the Iraqi people."