Iraq Trade Minister Says US and Britain are Playing Old Record Again

The US and Great Britain are playing the old record, Iraqi Trade Minister Mohamed Mehdi Saleh has said meaning the former's allegation that Baghdad possesses banned weapons. The statements President George Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair repeatedly make are not susceptible of proof and are propaganda aimed at influencing the public opinion, the minister said as addressing reporters at a ceremony of opening an exhibition of Jordan-made industrial products in Baghdad.

Mr Saleh is positive US Secretary of State Colin Powell, who is expected to address the United Nations Security Council on February 5, will not produce any relevant evidence either. If he had the evidence, he should have provided it to UN weapons inspectors, said the minister. Iraq does not deploy banned weapons, he assured.