Iraqi paper plays down U.N. talks on sanctions

BAGHDAD, Iraq (Reuters) -- A leading Iraqi newspaper on Saturday said little was likely to result from dialogue between the United Nations and Baghdad on easing the decade-old sanctions against Iraq.

"Counting on the efforts of the U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan at a time America and Britain dominate the world body might make us bet on a losing horse," said Babel, newspaper of President Saddam Hussein's eldest son Uday.

"We cannot expect the Security Council to issue a resolution ending injustice done to us," Babel said in a front page editorial.

Last week discussed deadlocked efforts to ease the sanctions with the vice-chairman of Iraq's Revolutionary Command Council, Izzat Ibrahim, at an Islamic summit in Qatar.

Annan described the talks as "frank and useful," while Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf said afterwards: "We have agreed to open a comprehensive dialogue between the United Nations and Baghdad without preconditions."

However, diplomatic sources said Annan had made clear he was bound by U.N. resolutions that stipulate the Iraqis must admit and cooperate with international weapons monitors before sanctions can be suspended.

"The Secretary General and the influential powers in the Council are required to show good intentions towards our legitimate demand for lifting sanctions," it added.

In what is seen as indirect hint to Russia, Babel said: "While Iraq appreciates the efforts and stands of some countries we should put in mind that some of these parties had promised us that we would see light at the end of the tunnel."

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov called last week for the world to relieve pressure on Iraq and look for new ways to deal with Baghdad.

Ivanov, who was on a trip to Iraq, linked lifting sanctions to a resumption of U.N. inspections of Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction.

Baghdad has repeatedly said it will not accept a U.N. resolution adopted last December which could ease sanctions on Iraq once Baghdad allows a new arms inspection team to return.

U.N. inspectors have been barred since the last team left in December 1998, shortly before Washington and London launched a four-day air campaign against Iraq after accusing President Saddam Hussein of hindering the work of arms inspectors.

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