Iraq has asked the United Nations to do "everything possible" to stop a US-led invasion of Baghdad, describing it as "illegal, immoral and unjustifiable".
In an emotional speech outside the Security Council chamber on Tuesday, Iraq's ambassador to the UN, Mohammed Aldouri, said: "This is the first time in history that a president of one state has ordered the president of another state to leave his own country.
"It is unacceptable, unless we accept the law of the jungle, and reject all principles of the United Nations. We reject this madness. It is tantamount to genocide."
Mr Aldouri said Iraq had "co-operated fully" with the weapons inspectors, and "has, in fact, disarmed".
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Dr Blix voiced disappointment and sadness at the failure to complete the peaceful disarmament of Iraq, and said he was confident the Iraqi leadership would not dare to use chemical and biological weapons against US-led forces even if the country faced certain military defeat.
There are "some people who care about their reputation even after death", he said.
Dr Blix conceded that Iraq had the ability to develop chemical and biological weapons capable of striking at US targets, but said he doubted that the regime would risk rallying international support behind the US.
Russia, which opposes any US-led war, tried on Tuesday to initiate a UN debate on the issue, but it seemed doomed. Chambers are now virtually empty, as the debate moves to Washington and London.
Russian lawmakers angry over a possible American-led attack on Iraq put off a vote Tuesday to ratify a US-Russian nuclear arms treaty as President Vladimir Putin warned war would be a mistake that could pose a grave risk to international security.
Sydney Morning Herald March 20 2003
