The Black Vault - Democrats Say Iraq to Give UN Unfettered Access

By Randy Fabi - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Three Democratic U.S. congressmen said on Sunday from Baghdad that Iraq would provide unfettered access to U.N. inspectors, but Republican senators were skeptical.

Congress is expected to begin debate this week on a resolution giving President Bush the power he wants to attack Iraq. Some Democrats want the Republican Bush to exhaust diplomatic measures before going to war, and to limit the president's war powers.

With the November U.S. mid-term elections looming, Iraq has stolen the national spotlight from the sluggish economy and other troublesome domestic issues.

Democratic Representatives Jim McDermott of Washington, Mike Thompson of California and David Bonior of Michigan, in Iraq to assess the humanitarian situation, said Baghdad should be allowed to comply with U.N. demands without the looming threat of U.S. military action.

"They (Iraqi officials) said they would allow us to go look anywhere we wanted," McDermott said on ABC's "This Week.." "And until they don't do that, there is no need to do this coercive stuff where you bring in helicopters and armed people and storm buildings."

The Democrats said they met with Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri and Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz, who promised "unrestricted, unfettered" access.

"I think you have to take Iraqis on their face value," McDermott said. "We don't have to pass a resolution in the Congress or in the (U.N.) Security Council right now."

The three visited the southern port city of Basra on Sunday to check the living conditions and health of civilians after more than a decade of U.N. sanctions.

Their visit came as Baghdad said U.S. jets had raided the civilian airport in Basra for the second time in a week. In Tampa, Florida, U.S. Central Command said it had targeted a military mobile radar at Basra "in response to hostile acts."

REPUBLICANS EXPRESS DOUBT

Republican senators expressed doubts that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein would allow U.N. inspectors complete access.

"He's not going to allow them back in, because he has these weapons and materials and laboratories and he isn't about to give them up," Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona said on CNN's "Late Edition."

Iraq rejected on Saturday a draft-U.S. proposed Security Council resolution requiring it to comply with new arms inspection rules within 30 days or face military action.

The Democratic-controlled Senate is expected to begin debate this week on a resolution authorizing a strike against Iraq. The Republican-controlled House of Representatives is due to take up the measure in mid-October.

"I don't believe Saddam Hussein will do what he has to do," Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott said on CBS's "Face the Nation. "But this president will take every possible effort to make sure that he does comply. And if he does, then maybe action won't be necessary."

U.N. weapons inspectors were sent to Iraq after the Gulf War but left in December 1998 saying Baghdad was obstructing their work. They have not been allowed back since.

McDermott said Bush "would mislead the American people" on Iraq. "It would not surprise me if they came with some information that is not provable, and they've shifted," he said.

Republican Sen. Don Nickles of Oklahoma said the three Democrats sounded like "spokespersons for the Iraqi government."

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