Saddam: al Qaeda, inspectors and us

LONDON - Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has given his first interview in 12 years to British politician and veteran peace activist Tony Benn in Baghdad.

In the interview, filmed by an Iraqi camera crew, Saddam says Iraq has no banned weapons of mass destruction and no links to the al Qaeda terror network.

He says Iraqis are fulfilling obligations under United Nations resolution on weapons inspections and accuses the United States of seeking to control the world by grabbing oil.

The following are edited highlights:

BENN: I come for one reason only - to see whether in a talk we can explore, or you can help me to see, what the paths to peace may be. Firstly, does Iraq have any weapons of mass destruction?

SADDAM: Most Iraqi officials have been in power for over 34 years and have experience of dealing with the outside world. Every fair-minded person knows that when Iraqi officials say something, they are trustworthy.

There is only one truth and therefore I tell you as I have said on many occasions before that Iraq has no weapons of mass destruction whatsoever. We challenge anyone who claims that we have to bring forward any evidence and present it to public opinion.

BENN: Do you have links with al Qaeda?

SADDAM: If we had a relationship with al Qaeda and we believed in that relationship we wouldn't be ashamed to admit it. Therefore I would like to tell you directly and also through you to anyone who is interested to know that we have no relationship with al Qaeda.

BENN: There appears to be difficulties with [UN] inspectors. I wonder whether there's anything you can tell me about these difficulties and whether you believe they will be cleared up before Mr Hans Blix and Mr Elbaradei come back to Baghdad?

SADDAM: The Security Council resolutions - implemented or not - or the motivation behind these resolutions could lead the current situation to the path of peace or war. Therefore it's a critical situation.

For the last 13 years since the blockade was imposed, it has caused harm to the Iraqi people, particularly the children and the elderly as a result of the shortage of food and medicine and other aspects of their life.

Therefore we are facing a critical situation.

On that basis, it is not surprising that there might be complaints relating to the small details of the inspection which may be essential issues as far as we are concerned and the way we see the whole thing. It is possible that those Iraqis who are involved with the inspection might complain about the conduct of the inspectors and they complain indeed.

It is also possible that some inspectors, either for reasons of practical and detailed procedure, or for some other motives, may complain about the Iraqi conduct.

When Iraq objects to the conduct of those implementing the Security Council resolutions, that doesn't mean that Iraq wishes to push things to confrontation. Iraq has no interest in war.

The question should be directed at the other side. Are they looking for a pretext so they could justify war against Iraq?

If the purpose was to make sure that Iraq is free of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons then they can do that.

These weapons do not come in small pills that you can hide in your pocket.

These are weapons of mass destruction and it is easy to work out if Iraq has them or not.

We have said many times beforeand we say it again today that Iraq is free of such weapons. BENN: On the relations between Iraq and the UN, and the prospects for peace more broadly, I wonder whether you see a way in which the UN can reach that objective for the benefit of humanity?

SADDAM: If we look at the representatives of two super powers - America and Britain - and look at their conduct and their language, we would notice that they are more motivated by war than their responsibility for peace. And when they talk about peace all they do is accuse others they wish to destroy in the name of peace.

They claim they are looking after the interests of their people. You know as well as I do that this is not the truth. Yes, the world would respect this principle if it was genuinely applied. It's not about power but it is about right and wrong, about when we base our human relations on good, and respect this principle. So it becomes simple to adhere to this principle because anyone who violates it will be exposed to public opinion.

BENN: There are people who believe this present conflict is about oil. Can you say something about how you see the enormous oil reserves of Iraq being developed, first for the benefit of the people of Iraq and secondly for the needs of mankind.

SADDAM: When we speak about oil in this part of the world - we are an integral part of the world - we have to deal with others in all aspects of life, economic as well as social, technical, scientific and other areas.

It seems that the authorities in the US are motivated by aggression that has been evident for more than a decade against the region.

The first factor is the role of those influential people in the decision taken by the President of the US based on sympathy with the Zionist entity that was created at the expense of Palestine and its people and their humanity.

These people force the hand of the American Administration by claiming that the Arabs pose a danger to Israel.

The consecutive American Administrations were led down a path of hostility against the people of this region, including our own nation and we are part of it.

Those people and others have been telling the various US Administrations, especially the current one, that if you want to control the world you need to control the oil.

Therefore the destruction of Iraq is a prerequisite to controlling oil. That means the destruction of the Iraqi national identity, since the Iraqis are committed to their principles and rights according to international law and the UN charter.

We won't be able to develop the oil fields or the oil industry and therefore create worldwide co-operation as members of the human family when there is war, destruction and death. Isn't it reasonable to question this approach and conclude that this road will not benefit anyone including America or its people?

BENN: There are tens of millions, maybe hundreds of millions of people in Britain and America, in Europe and worldwide, who want to see a peaceful outcome to this problem. I wonder whether you could say something yourself directly through this interview to the peace movement of the world that might help to advance the cause they have in mind?

SADDAM: We admire the development of the peace movement around the world in the last few years. We pray to God to empower all those working against war and for the cause of peace and security based on just peace for all.

We hope the British people would tell those who hate the Iraqis and wish them harm that there is no reason to justify this war and please tell them that I say to you because the British people are brave - tell them that the Iraqis are brave too.

The Iraqis don't wish war, but if war is imposed upon them - if they are attacked and insulted - they will defend themselves. They will defend their country, their sovereignty and their security.

- REUTERS

Herald feature: Iraq