Iraq agrees to allow weapons inspectors back in

Iraq officially accepted a U.N. resolution Wednesday that will allow inspectors to see if the country has any illegal weapons. Iraq's ambassador to the United Nations, Mohammad Al-Douri, delivered the nine-page letter of acceptance to U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Al-Douri said that because Iraq does not have weapons of mass destruction, the country's officials are not worried about letting inspectors back in. "Iraq is clean," he said.

Weapons inspectors were last in Iraq in 1998. They left after saying that Iraqi officials were interfering with their work. The new U.N. resolution warns of "serious consequences" if Iraq interferes again.

President Bush met with Kofi Annan and thanked the U.N. secretary-general for his leadership in negotiating the resolution. President Bush said, "The United Nations Security Council made a very strong statement that we, the world expects Saddam Hussein to disarm for the sake of peace and the U.N. stepped up to its responsibilities."

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After the meeting, Annan said he hoped that Iraq would fully cooperate with the resolution and allow weapons inspectors to do their jobs. Annan said, "The issue is not the acceptance, but the performance on the ground..." His statement indicates that Iraq's actions in the coming days will speak louder than its words. Annan added, "So let the inspectors go in and I urge the Iraqis to cooperate with them and to perform and I think that is the real test we are waiting for."

The Bush administration shares that view. During a Cabinet meeting earlier Wednesday, President Bush repeated his warning that the United States would have "zero tolerance" if Iraq blocks the U.N. weapons inspectors in any way. Bush said it is up to Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein to disarm, but that the United States would take steps to disarm him if he does not do so.

The weapons inspectors are scheduled to arrive in Baghdad on Monday. Iraq is required to provide complete information about its weapons programs by December 8.