Ivanov: No proof of Iraq, al Qaida link

MOSCOW, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- Russia doubts U.S. and British claims that link Iraq with the al Qaida organization and will insist on the return of U.N. weapons inspectors to Baghdad, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said Friday.

"In the past few days, official representatives of the United States and Great Britain have persistently claimed that they possess irrefutable evidence testifying about Iraq's ties with the al Qaida terrorist organization and Iraqi assistance to (Osama) bin Laden's supporters in building chemical weapons," Ivanov said after meeting Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda.

But Russia received no "concrete facts or proof" on the issue, he said.

"A recent report on the weapons of mass destruction that was published in London also fails to produce such proof," Ivanov added.

The United States and Britain say Iraq possesses or is pursuing weapons of mass destruction and say Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein must be deposed, if necessary, by military action.

Russia, a close Iraqi ally, is against any attack.

Ivanov said Russia would continue to pursue the goal of the U.N. weapons inspectors' return to Baghdad. He said the would "provide a reply to voiced concerns."

Russia's Foreign Ministry issued a statement Friday saying more than 200 arms inspectors from 44 countries were ready to visit Iraq at first notice in order to check the weapons programs.

Also on hold are the inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency who should verify development of Iraq's nuclear energy programs, the statement added.

"Thus, there are no obstacles that could prevent international inspectors from resuming their mission in Iraq. Russia favors that it be done urgently," Ivanov said.

Later Friday, he briefed Russia's legislators in the State Duma on the Iraqi crisis as the chamber discussed adoption of a resolution on Iraq.

The task of inspecting Iraq's weapons programs was disrupted four years ago and its resumption faced tough opposition from Saddam.

Last week, Iraq announced it was ready to let the inspectors back in amid growing threats of a U.S.-led military attack.

Russia has warned Washington that any unilateral military action against Iraq without a U.N. Security Council mandate might have grave consequences.

Dismissing Baghdad's announced readiness to readmit inspectors as Saddam's maneuver to win time, Washington pushes for a new, tougher U.N. Security Council resolution on Iraq that will authorize the use of force if Iraq fails to deliver on its promise.

On Friday, Ivanov said there was no draft of a new resolution in the U.N. Security Council yet, but admitted the existence of an opinion that deems a new resolution is necessary to support the effectiveness of the international inspectors' actions in Iraq.

Meanwhile, U.S. Undersecretary of State Marc Grossman is to arrive in Moscow for talks Saturday and his arrival signals Washington's determination to win support for a U.S.-British draft of a new resolution on Iraq.

On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin strongly opposed any military action against Iraq and hinted the existing resolution should be sufficient to play down the crisis.

"We favor a rapid resolution of the situation by political and diplomatic means, on the basis of existing U.N. Security Council regulations and in strict compliance with the principles of international law," Putin said in the Kremlin as he accepted credentials from a group of envoys to Russia, including Iraq's new ambassador Abbas Khalaf.

Russia is keen to preserve traditionally strong ties with Iraq, its long-time trade partner that owes it around $7 billion in unsettled deals, many of which date to the Soviet era when Moscow was a chief arms supplier to Baghdad.