Fed: Aust ambassador says Saddam still hasn't got the message

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Fed: Aust ambassador says Saddam still hasn't got the message

By Max Blenkin

CANBERRA, Feb 19 AAP - Iraq had persistently failed to cooperate with weapons inspectorsand there was no guarantee it would comply if given more time, Australia's ambassadorto the United Nations said today.

Urging the UN Security Council in New York to deal with Iraq and Saddam Hussein withoutdelay, Ambassador John Dauth said the UN had proposed a robust inspections regime underResolution 1441 last November.

He said active Iraqi cooperation remained the other fundamental part and that was still missing .

"Sadly, 11 years and 10 months after the Security Council first demanded Iraq disarm,(Iraqi President) Saddam Hussein still has not understood the message," he said.

Mr Dauth said even if the UN gave Iraq more time there was no guarantee it would cooperate.

"But do we really think more time will make Iraq cooperate. Does Iraq really need morethan three more months to make a decision that should take no more than three minutes,"

he said

"In Australia's view, the Security Council should not wait forever to confront thisissue. Either Iraq has complied or it hasn't."

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KEYWORD: IRAQ AUST 3RD DAYLEAD