British Ex-MP Conducts TV Interview with Saddam

03/02/2003| IslamWeb

British Labor politician Tony Benn said he had filmed an hour-long television interview with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein Sunday, the first in over a decade. He said he had asked Saddam "very simple and very short questions" during the interview that dealt with weapons of mass destruction, links to al-Qaeda terror network and oil. "This was a much more focused visit to have an opportunity for a television interview where he (Saddam) will be able to make his own case to the world," Benn, 77, a former long-time member of parliament, told a news conference in Baghdad.

Benn said he did not want to reveal Saddam's answers in the interview earlier in the day "because I am hoping that within the next day or two, the whole interview will be broadcast in its entirety."

He did not say when or where the interview would be broadcast. He was leaving for London via Amman late Sunday.

"He has not given a television interview I believe for 12 years, and the fact that he had agreed to see me was an indication of the importance he shows in doing that," Benn said.

Benn met Saddam in 1990 when he came along with other British politicians to seek the release of British civilians in Iraq following Baghdad's invasion of neighboring Kuwait.

He said the reason for his current visit to Baghdad was "to explore possibilities of a peaceful solution to a problem, that otherwise might lead to the most catastrophic war in which innocent people will be killed with long-term consequences."

The United States, backed by British Prime Minister Tony Blair, has threatened to attack Iraq if Baghdad fails to give up alleged weapons of mass destruction. Iraq denies having such weapons.

Benn, who met other senior officials in Baghdad, said he believed "the march to war" could be stopped and proposed that a delegation of Nobel peace prize winners visit Iraq to find ways to avert war.

Key Developments Concerning Iraq

_* A senior Iraqi official said Baghdad wants to resolve outstanding issues over the U.N. inspections when chief weapons inspectors Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei visit next weekend. But the official gave no sign of immediate concessions on key issues - U.N. reconnaissance flights or scientist interviews.

_ *The official, Maj. Gen. Hossam Mohamed Amin, also said U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell will likely produce "fabricated" evidence when he presents the U.S. case against Baghdad to the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday.

_ *U.N. arms inspectors made surprise visits to a missile factory and a chemicals complex outside of Baghdad as well as a dairy company, likely in connection with the hunt for signs of biological weapons work.

_ *The Turkish military began moving troops to its southeast border with Iraq ahead for a possible U.S.-led war. Turkey has said it could move into northern Iraq in event of war to prevent a flood of refugees.

PHOTO CAPTION

Former British socialist labor MP, Tony Benn, speaks at a news conference during his second visit to Baghdad, February 2, 2003. Benn said he conducted a television interview with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, the first in 12 years. ERS/Suhaib Salem - Feb 02