President Saddam Hussein told the UN General Assembly in a message that Iraq was "clear of all nuclear, chemical and biological weapons." just three days after agreeing to an unconditional resumption of arms inspections.

Saddam's message was delivered by his foreign minister, Naji Sabri, who told delegates Bush was seeking a pretext to attack because "the United States wants to destroy Iraq in order to control the Middle East oil."

"I hereby declare before you that Iraq is clear of all nuclear, chemical and biological weapons," Saddam said in the message read by Sabri.

While saying Iraq was ready to cooperate with the United Nations, Saddam added that the country "rejects any transgression by whosoever at the expense of its rights, sovereignty, security and independence that is in contradiction with the principles of the (UN) Charter and international law."

"We have suffered a lot as a result of the arrogance and aggression adopted by successive American administrations," the Iraqi leader said, accusing Bush of "utilising the American propaganda machine, along with official statements of lies, distortion and falsehood" to drum up public support for a new military strike against Iraq.

The White House immediately slammed the Iraqi leader's declaration, while Bush asked lawmakers for sweeping authority to go after Saddam.

Chief spokesman Ari Fleischer said the speech was "a disappointing failure in every respect. The speech is an attempt to lure the world down the same dead-end road that the world has traveled before."

Also in Washington, US Secretary of State Colin Powell said it would be "a recipe for failure" to take Saddam at his word and to send in UN inspectors without a warning of "decisive consequences" if Iraq fails to disarm.

"There must be hard consequences," Powell told the House International Relations Committee, spelling out the key US demand in negotiations for a new resolution.

Bush's draft proposal to Congress would authorize him "to use all means that he determines to be appropriate, including force, in order to enforce the United Nations Security Council Resolutions" on Iraq.

Senate Republican leader Trent Lott and Majority Leader Tom Daschle agreed a vote on the resolution would be held by the first week in October.

Meanwhile, Bush emphasized that the United States was still ready to go it alone against Iraq if the United Nations does not take action.

"If the United Nations Security Council won't deal with the problem, the United States and some of our friends will," he insisted, again dismissing Iraq's offer to let UN weapons inspectors return.

Blix said he hoped to send an advance party of inspectors shortly after he completes preparatory talks with the Iraqi authorities early next month. Diplomats quoted him as saying he planned to do so on October 15, but he did not confirm the date.

Blix met at UN headquarters with two senior Iraqi officials Tuesday for preliminary talks on the practical details of restarting inspections. The two sides agreed to resume and conclude their talks in Vienna in the week starting September 30.

Meanwhile some US Democrats expressed concern the draft resolution amounted to a blank check that they could not support.

They said, however, that they were willing to work with the White House on the wording of the resolution allowing Bush to do whatever it takes to disarm or oust Saddam Hussein.

The resolution concludes by allowing the president to "defend the national security interests of the United States against the threat posed by Iraq, and restore the international peace and security in the region."

Many lawmakers leaving a two-hour meeting of Senate Democrats had concerns over the sweeping nature of the last six words in the draft.

"I don't think people want to sign a blank check," said Senator Patrick Leahy.

"It appears to actually authorize the president to do virtually anything anywhere in the Middle East," said Senator Russ Feingold. "To endorse such language would be irresponsible."

Senator Joe Biden, Democratic chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he would support such a strongly-worded UN resolution, but questioned to what extent UN decisions should determine US action.

"We should consider giving (Bush) the right to use unilateral force," he said.

Meanwhile the US military has resumed anthrax inoculations of US troops deploying to the Gulf and would plan for possible Iraqi nuclear, biological and chemical attacks in the event of a war, the top US general said.

"There is no doubt -- and I don't want to paint too rosy a picture here -- weapons of mass destruction would be a horrible thing to have on the battlefield," said General Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Myers raised the specter of panicked civilian populations slowing down the fighting, and said US commanders would plan against a "worst-case" scenario of attacks on ports and airfields as US forces disembark in the region.

He said US forces deploying to the region began receiving anthrax vaccinations again three days ago, resuming a program that had been sharply scaled back because of supply problems.

bur/mdl/ceh Nampa-AFP WEB story ENDS (NAMPA 200245)

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