Radio Workshop

Powell at the UN: Lights, Camera, Action (Transcript)

by Simon Bishop

NARRATION:

Powell used intercepted radio transmissions, satellite photos and human intelligence sources to prove his charges.

Saddam Hussein's regime had, he said, systematically deceived United Nations weapons inspectors, currently possesses biological and chemical weapons and is attempting to obtain nuclear capability. Also, that he harbors a deadly terrorist network - with links to Al-Qaeda.

It took Powell 83-minutes to make his case.

At one point he played what he said was a radio conversation between two Iraqi officials intercepted the day before inspections.

Actuality: Tape of Crackly Voices speaking in arabic [5 sec fade under]

Simultaneous translations appearing on screens around the Security Council chamber showed the men talking of "evacuating everything."

Like a prosecutor in court Powell provided evidence, then explained its significance-only this time the jury was the Security Council and a watching world public.

All this showed, he said, that Iraq had repeatedly breached UN Resolution 1441 requiring it to disarm its weapons of mass destruction AND it was time for the UN to act.

POWELL: We wrote 1441 to give Iraq one last chance. Iraq is not, so far, taking that one last chance. We must not shrink from whatever is ahead of us. We must not fail in our duty to the citizens of the countries that we represent by this body.

NARRATION: In reply Iraqi Ambassador Mohammed Aldouri, charged the accusations were quote, "utterly unrelated to the truth."

ALDOURI: Regarding the presentation of Mr. Powell I believe it was a set of accusations that could easily be refuted. We are committed to proactively cooperate with the inspectors as we have done since their return to Iraq.

NARRATION: Powell received solid support from Americas staunchest ally, Britain, whose Foreign Minister, Jack Straw warned the UN it must stand up to Iraq or risk making the same mistakes as its defunct predecesor, the League of Nations.

But other countries appeared unconvinced. Veto carrying China, Russia, and France, all called for more time for the inspectors. French foreign minister, Dominique de Villepin, speaking through an interpreter. offered a series of proposals to strengthen the inspections including a trebling of the number of inspectors.

VILLEPIN: The use of force can only be a final recourse. Why go to war if there this exists some unused space in Resolution 1441.

NARRATION: He suggested a raft of proposals that would strengthern the inspections including a trebling of the number of inspectors.

Attention now turns to a visit to Iraqby the chief weapons inspectors Hans Blix and Mohammed El-Baradei which starts tomorrow.

Simon Bishop, Columbia Radio News.