Iraqis relieved after Saddam accepts UN text

11.45am - by HASSAN HAFIDH

BAGHDAD - Many Iraqis, weary from two wars in two decades, expressed relief today that their leader had accepted the UN resolution ordering Iraq to disarm, saying it had averted the spectre of war for the time being.

Others, defiant, saw the resolution as an affront to Iraq's dignity, and some said they feared the United States was determined to attack Iraq anyway.

"I am happy that our leader has accepted the resolution. The Americans will not leave us alone, but at least they will not attack us now," said Abu Zaidoun, a street vendor.

The majority of Iraqis accepted the government's official line, which was that it had accepted the tough UN Security Council resolution to foil US plans to wage war on Iraq.

"Iraq pulled the rug from under the feet of the United States when it accepted the resolution," said Baghdad resident Jassim Mohammed on hearing the news. "Iraq has accepted the resolution to protect the people and the country," he added.

The resolution gives Baghdad one last chance to disarm and co-operate with UN weapons inspectors or face "serious consequences."

Many Iraqis said President Saddam Hussein's decision was "wise, gracious" and was aimed at denying the United States the pleasure of attacking Iraq and ousting its leader.

"Our government had no option but to accept the resolution to spare our country a devastating war, whose results nobody could predict," said Abu Zaidoun. "The president's decision is a wise decision."

Other Iraqis, recalling the US-led 1991 Gulf War over Iraq's occupation of Kuwait, said they believed the resolution was "unjust and provocative", but were still happy that their president had accepted it.

"I feel relief because we complied with the resolution and I hope America and Britain will not attack us," said Khalid Thamer, a civil servant.

"We want to live in peace. We don't want to give our enemy any reason to strike us," added Adel al-Badawi, an employee.

Iraqi television showed Saddam meeting his top aides and ministers on Wednesday before announcing his acceptance of the resolution.

It showed a relaxed, smiling Saddam, wearing a smart civilian suit, addressing a meeting of the Revolutionary Command Council and the Command of the ruling Arab Baath Party -- Iraq's most important political bodies.

Iraq's UN ambassador, Mohammed Aldouri, delivered a letter spelling out Baghdad's acceptance of the resolution adopted unanimously by the Security Council last Friday.

Iraq's letter accused the United States and Britain, co- sponsors of the resolution, of manipulating world opinion for their own ends and to help Israel, referred to as the "Zionist entity."

"The lies and manipulations of the American administration and the British government will be exposed, while the world will see how truthful and adequate the Iraqis are in what they say and do," Foreign Minister Naji Sabri wrote in the letter.

Some Iraqis were defiant and expressed resentment at their leader's decision.

"I am not happy that we agreed to the resolution....because Bush's administration has a political agenda which it wants to implement in Iraq," said Abu Marwan, a real estate agent.

Others said the United States was determined to attack Iraq even if Baghdad accepted the resolution, and said their leaders should take a risk by rejecting the UN demands in order to safeguard Iraq's dignity.

"Our leadership has accepted the unjust resolution because it was under pressure from the outside world. I am very doubtful that the Iraqi goodwill gesture will be reciprocated by the warmongers in Washington," said Abu Aboud, a retired civil servant.

- REUTERS

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