WASHINGTON, Jan 29: The United States has said it is prepared to ``unilaterally'' use force against Iraq if the allies do not provide any support.``We prefer always to go multilaterally if such support is possible. If not, we are prepared to go unilaterally,'' US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said yesterday, reacting to Russia's decision to oppose the use of force against Iraq.
When informed that the Arab countries have taken a decision not to support the US on this issue, Albright said, ``I am not going anywhere to seek support. I am going to explain our position.''
She claimed that the US has the authority to use force against Iraq without the UN Security Council resolution, but denied that ``there has been any decision to use force.'' ``We prefer the diplomatic route,'' she said. All options are left open, she added, even as the Pentagon gave footage to TV networks of new weapons which, it said, will destroy targets in Iraq even more effectively than in the Gulf War.
The Pentagon said itsbomb experts would use ``smart fuses'' to cause the bombs to explode beneath two or three layers of concrete, but felt that the release of chemicals and germs into the atmosphere could endanger the lives of thousands of people.
Meanwhile, in Baghdad, Iraqi president Saddam Hussein warned the US against attacking his country and said Iraqis would resist any ``aggression''. The Iraqi News Agency (INA) quoted Saddam as telling a meeting of Iraqi leaders today that ``if the devil pushes these enemies into evil and aggression and they attack us, we will be forced to fight them with all our capabilities.''.
The agency said Saddam's message was delivered in a message of congratulations to leaders of the ruling Baath Party and the members of the Revolutionary Command Council to mark the start of the Muslim holiday of Id ul-Fitr. ``If the aggressors are deluded and attack us, the sons of our (Arab) nation and (our) friends will find a people performing their national duties at a surprising level,'' INA quotedSaddam as saying. The statement made no mention of Russian mediation attempts to avert US military action against Iraq.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
