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Tough Words From U.N.'s Top Two Weapons Inspectors

Aired February 06, 2003 - 08:32   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Tough words from the U.N.'s top two weapons inspectors this morning. As we told you at the top of this half hour, Hans Blix and Mohammed Elbaradei say Iraq must show drastic change before the Security Council meeting next week. The two men spoke after meeting with Tony Blair in London.
Richard Roth is there, and he traveled with Hans Blix To London, and he has more details for us now.

Good morning, Richard.

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SR. U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.

Frustration among the leading international arms inspectors on Iraq. Hans Blix and Mohamed Elbaradei here at 10 Downing Street, Prime Minister Blair's residence for a talk on those inspections, stalled inspections. They haven't been able to find anything, though doors are open to them. Along with British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, the four men came out to pose for some photographs, Blix and Elbaradei are on their way back to Baghdad for the third time in three months. And Elbaradei, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency says, once again, along with the Security Council, the two men will be asking for further cooperation from Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOHAMED ELBARADEI, IAEA EXEC. DIR.: Well, as you know, we are going over the weekend to Baghdad. We are coming from New York. I think the message coming from the Security Council is very clear, that Iraq is not cooperating fully, that they need to show drastic change in terms of cooperation. The message also coming from Security Council that time is very critical, and that we need to show progress in our report, which will be due on the 14th of this month. So our mission, I think, in Baghdad this weekend is crucial and we hope we will secure full 100 percent cooperation on the part of Iraq.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROTH: The British remain the strongest allies of the U.S. on the Security Council, but Blix and Elbaradei would still love more time to continue inspections -- Paula.

ZAHN: Richard Roth, thanks for the update from London.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired February 6, 2003 - 08:32   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Tough words from the U.N.'s top two weapons inspectors this morning. As we told you at the top of this half hour, Hans Blix and Mohammed Elbaradei say Iraq must show drastic change before the Security Council meeting next week. The two men spoke after meeting with Tony Blair in London.
Richard Roth is there, and he traveled with Hans Blix To London, and he has more details for us now.

Good morning, Richard.

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SR. U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.

Frustration among the leading international arms inspectors on Iraq. Hans Blix and Mohamed Elbaradei here at 10 Downing Street, Prime Minister Blair's residence for a talk on those inspections, stalled inspections. They haven't been able to find anything, though doors are open to them. Along with British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, the four men came out to pose for some photographs, Blix and Elbaradei are on their way back to Baghdad for the third time in three months. And Elbaradei, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency says, once again, along with the Security Council, the two men will be asking for further cooperation from Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOHAMED ELBARADEI, IAEA EXEC. DIR.: Well, as you know, we are going over the weekend to Baghdad. We are coming from New York. I think the message coming from the Security Council is very clear, that Iraq is not cooperating fully, that they need to show drastic change in terms of cooperation. The message also coming from Security Council that time is very critical, and that we need to show progress in our report, which will be due on the 14th of this month. So our mission, I think, in Baghdad this weekend is crucial and we hope we will secure full 100 percent cooperation on the part of Iraq.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROTH: The British remain the strongest allies of the U.S. on the Security Council, but Blix and Elbaradei would still love more time to continue inspections -- Paula.

ZAHN: Richard Roth, thanks for the update from London.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com