Mohammed el Baradei

BAGHDAD, November 15 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Iraq prepared Friday, November 15, for the return of weapons inspectors as skeptical officials in Washington waited to see if Baghdad will meet U.N. disarmament demands.

Chief U.N. inspector Hans Blix and International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Mohammed El-Baradei are due in Baghdad Monday, November 18, with an advance team of experts to begin the process of implementing a tough new resolution aimed at ensuring Iraq's (alleged) nuclear, biological and chemical weapons programs are ended, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Baghdad announced Wednesday, November 13, it unconditionally accepted the resolution, paving the way for the inspectors' return for the first time in four years.

Iraq now has until December 8 to give a full accounting of its weapons programs or face "grave consequences."

Iraq said it had once more shown goodwill by swallowing the bitter pill of the U.N. resolution, and called on China, France and Russia to work towards lifting the international embargo against it.

"By accepting to deal with Resolution 1441, Iraq has proven its goodwill ... and confirmed that our country is free of weapons of mass destruction," wrote the influential Babel newspaper, run by President Saddam Hussein's elder son.

Baghdad yielded two days before the deadline laid down by the resolution, adopted unanimously Friday, November 8, by the 15-member U.N. Security Council.

U.S. officials, however, remained skeptical Baghdad would comply.

Washington and the international community intended to "keep the pressure" on Baghdad because it is the "only thing Iraqis will respond to," U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said during a visit to Canada.

"The U.S. has demonstrated considerable patience over the last two months," he said, referring to the protracted negotiations over a revised U.N. resolution to get inspectors back to Iraq after their recall four years ago.

"That patience will continue," Powell said. But, "if the Iraqis do not cooperate, do not comply, do not work with the inspectors, do not take this opportunity to get rid of their weapons of mass destruction, then there will be consequences.

"Those consequences will involve the use of military force to disarm them, to changing the regime," he said, repeating that Washington is ready to lead a coalition to disarm Iraq if the U.N. was unwilling to act.

"He will be disarmed, one way or the other."

U.S. allies, for their part, echoed the sentiments.

French President Jacques Chirac said Iraq must demonstrate complete cooperation with U.N. demands.

"It is important now that Iraq adheres strictly to its obligations and demonstrates its full and entire cooperation with the United Nations," the French leader said during talks with the visiting Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Hamdan ben Zayed Al Nahyan.

"This is what the international community unanimously expects of it."

In the official translation of the letter from Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri, Iraq confirms that it intends to "deal with" Security Council Resolution 1441.

"We hereby inform you that we will deal with Resolution 1441, despite its iniquitous contents, even though it is to be implemented against the background of the intentions harbored by those of bad faith," Sabri said. "Based as this is in an attempt to do our people harm," read the letter.

France and Russia, both veto-wielding permanent members of the council, had insisted Washington change the draft text of the resolution, dropping language that it might be interpreted as authorization automatic use of force against Iraq if U.N. inspections are thwarted.

El-Baradei, in a speech here to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, laid out five key factors needed for successful inspections.

These include: immediate and unfettered access to all locations and sites in Iraq; ready access to all sources of information; unified and unequivocal support from the U.N. Security Council; active co-operation from Iraq; and an inspection process free from outside interference, El-Baradei said.

And international oil prices edged higher after plunging to eight-month lows a day earlier after Iraq bowed to international pressure.

"Nobody thinks Iraq is going to fully cooperate with the inspectors," said AG Edwards market analyst Bill O'Grady, who predicted quiet trade until fresh news emerged from the U.S.-Iraq face-off.

New York's reference light sweet crude December contract, which tumbled 69 cents the day before, advanced 10 cents to 25.29 dollars.

The price of benchmark Brent North Sea crude for December delivery rose 11 cents to 22.81 dollars a barrel after tumbling by more than a dollar Wednesday.

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