| Summary: | WORLD September 20, 2002 www.cord.edu/dept/concord Page 3 Iraq agrees to U.N. inspection BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- U.N. weapons inspectors should be quick and honest in carrying out their task once they return, Iraq's deputy prime minister said Tuesday, adding that the United States might find a new reason to attack despite Baghdad's retreat on inspections. The Iraqi decision to allow the unconditional return of U.N. weapons inspectors after a nearly four-year absence followed pressure by Arab neighbors worried a U.S.-Iraq war would further destabilize the region. In Iraq's first public comments since Monday's letter informing U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan of its decision to allow the inspectors to return, Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz again questioned whether U.S. and British accusations that Iraq is stockpiling weapons of mass destruc-tion were **a genuine concern or a pre-text." "If the inspectors come and act hon-estly, professionally in order . to search for the truth . they can reach the truth within a _ _ _ _ _ _ reasonable time. But if the Americans are using this as a pre-text, they might use some other way in order to commit an aggres-sion against Iraq," Aziz told reporters after opening a "solidarity confer-ence" in Baghdad attended by lawmakers and internation-al delegates. Aziz called on Annan and the U.N. Security Council to watch the weapons "If the inspectors come and act honestly. they can reach the truth within a reasonable time." Tariq Aziz Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister inspectors closely to ensure they do not overstep their mandate. Iraq, he added, hoped the return of inspectors "will lead as soon as possi-ble to the lifting of sanctions and nor-malizing the situation." Under Security Council resolutions, sanctions imposed on Iraq after its 1990 invasion of Kuwait - cannot be lifted until U.N. inspec-tors certify its weapons of mass destruction have been destroyed. Inspectors left the country in December 1998 ahead of U.S. and British airstrikes to punish Iraq for not cooperating with them. Until Monday, Iraq had insisted the inspectors' return be linked to the end of trade sanctions. Annan has credited Arab nations with playing a key role in persuading Iraq to accept an unconditional resump- _—^ ^ ^ _ ^ ^ ^ ^ _ t'on of inspections. Russia, European states and China had urged Iraq to yield on the inspec-tors, but the heavi-est pressure came from Iraq's neigh-bors, who are try-ing to avert a U.S.- Iraq war. Iraqi officials, citing comments from top members of President Bush's administration, had speculated in the past that the United States would attack even if U.N. inspectors were allowed to return to [Americans] are after the region's oil, not weapons." Ahmed Koori Iraqi bookseller determine if Iraq was stockpiling nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and the missiles to deliver them. In Monday's letter to Annan, Iraq agreed to allow the unconditional return of U.N. inspectors, "to remove any doubts that Iraq still possesses _ _ _ _ ^ ^ _ weapons of mass destruction." The White House dismissed the offer as a tacti-cal move and con-tinued to press for a new U.N. Security Council resolution that could open the way to military action against Iraq. On Baghdad streets Tuesday, there were echoes of Aziz's questions about whether Iraq's decision to allow in weapons inspectors would defuse the crisis. "They will strike us, they already said they question our acceptance," said 48-year-old bookseller Ahmed Noori, adding "They are after the region's oil, not weapons." Noori was standing next to his book shop in al-Mutanabi Street listening to a shortwave radio. Iraqi newspapers, radio and television are controlled by the regime and none carried word of the decision on inspectors. Iraqis relied on foreign radio reports for the news. Sadiq Chelab, 50, a car painter, said his country had done the right thing. "Now the world has to watch for their (the Americans') reaction to see they are not after the implementation of U.N. resolutions but forcing us to accept a regime we do not want," Chelab said. Arab TV worker held at Guantanamo DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - - Arab satellite television Al-Jazeera says one of its employees was arrested in Afghanistan and is now being held with al-Qaida suspects at the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo. Sudanese assistant cameraman Sami al-Haj was detained in December and is in custody at Guantanamo's Camp Delta, the Qatar-based television said in a state-ment faxed late on Monday to The Associated Press. Al-Jazeera said it knew in April that al-Haj was detained in a camp operated by U.S. forces in Afghanistan. "Later, "It has been our long-standing policy not to get into that level of detail concerning detainees." Lt. Col. Joe Hoey Guantanamo spokesman we learned through correspondence with Mr. al-Haj's wife that he is now in Guantanamo," said the statement, which the station said was also sent to human rights groups. Some 600 detainees from 43 nations are being held in Guantanamo for sus-pected links with al-Qaida, the terror network the U.S. blames for the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington. U.S. authorities have yet to press formal charges against the detainees. Al-Jazeera said it was notified by the Sudanese Foreign Ministry that al-Haj had reported his passport missing in 2000, "thus making it reasonably possi-ble that [the passport] was subject to misuse by other people." However, the station said it is certain al-Haj is in U.S. custody at Guantanamo. Al-Jazeera said the U.S. Embassy in Qatar promised in June to contact the State Department in Washington to clar-ify the situation. The statement said the embassy has not come back with an answer since that time, nor it did respond to two other letters sent in June and September. The U.S. Embassy in the Qatari capi-tal of Doha refused to comment. Guantanamo officials declined to confirm if al-Haj was among the 598 detainees at Camp Delta. "It has been our long-standing policy not to get into that level of detail con-cerning detainees," said mission spokesman Lt. Col. Joe Hoey. The Qatar-based station said it had refrained from raising the issue publicly before for fear of jeopardizing al-Haj's case. "Al-Jazeera has tried very hard to obtain his release through the quiet exchange of letters . unfortunately, we had not received any positive response from the American side," the statement said. The statement demanded the immedi-ate release of al-Haj and called on "all those concerned with defending journal-ists' rights to join us in drawing the attention to Mr. al-Haj's plight and call-ing for his release without delay." Girl dead from drinking water SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- A couple have been charged with killing their 4-year-old adopted daughter by forcing her to drink large amounts of water. The girl's par- ^ ^ ^ — ^ ^ ^ cnts said she was given the water as part of a form of therapy to promote family bonding. But prosecutors disputed that and said she was being punished for drink-ing Kool-Aid. R i c h a r d Killpack, 34, and Jennete Killpack, 26, of Springville, were charged Monday with child abuse homicide and child abuse. They were not arrested and are awaiting a court summons. Prosecutors said Cassandra Killpack was forced to drink so much water it caused fatal brain swelling. She died June 10. Cassandra was tied with her hands behind her back when she tried to fight off her parents, said Sherry Ragan, chief of Utah County Attorney's criminal division. Cuts and bruises were found around the girl's mouth. Defense attorney Philip Danielson said Cassandra drank —^^^—^^^— only three glass-es of water. "These par-ents had no intention of hurt-ing their child. In fact, all this was done in an attempt to help the child through an extreme emo-tional problem," Danielson said. He said Cassandra was physical-ly and sexually abused before being adopted and was not bonding with her new parents. He said the Cascade Center for Family Growth in Orcm promoted forced water drinking for children with attach-ment disorder. Such children resist loving relationships and arc violent and unmanageable. Center director Larry Van Blocm denied that his therapists promoted forced water drinking. These parents had no intention of hurting their child." Philip Danielson Defense attorney 3826. You've seen the number. You know the number. Your hand has been on the phone, poised to dial. But you haven't actually made the call. Call 3826 to write. We're ready whenever you are. SECOND ANNUAL DOWNTOWN CHILI COOK OFF FREE PUBLIC TASTING 4:30-6:30 SOUTH OF MAIN ON HISTORIC 8TH STREET COOKING BEGINS & 1:00 ?U STREET DANCE FEATURING An opportunity to explore the meaning of life! What happens when we die? What relevance does Jesus have for our lives today? How do we deal with guilt? If you would like to explore any of these questions, then Alpha is for you. 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