Syria has submitted a draft resolution to the UN Security Council, calling for a ban on weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East. The resolution, which has the support of the 22 members of the Arab League, calls on all countries in the region to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
Middle Eastern countries would also have to abide by international treaties which ban the possession of biological and chemical weapons. The Syrian ambassador to the United Nations, Mikhail Wehbe, said Israel possesses weapons of mass destruction.
His American counterpart, John Negroponte, said the United States favours the abolition of weapons of mass destruction, but for the time being is concentrating on looking for hiding places in Iraq. The United States, which has accused Syria of hiding Iraqi weapons, says Damascus possesses chemical weapons.
Radio Netherlands 17 April 2003
