Speaking at the United Nations Security Council ministerial meeting on counter-terrorism, US Secretary of State Colin Powell said that the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is one of the fronts that worldwide anti-terror efforts should confront.

In the past several weeks, the United States has deployed about100,000 troops to the Gulf region for a possible war against Iraq, accusing the country of hiding weapons of mass destruction.

　　POWELL: UN SHOULD NOT SHIRK DUTY

Powell, who was at the UN Security Council ministerial meeting, tried to persuade other nations to face up to Iraq, saying the United Nations "must not shrink" its responsibility to disarm the country.

"We cannot be shocked into impotence because we're afraid of difficult choices ahead of us," Powell said in front of the Security Council members.

The secretary said that the world body must not shrink from a need to travel down that road, no matter how difficult the road ahead might be.

If Iraq does not come into full compliance, the United Nations should shoulder the responsibilities to deal with the regime, Powell said, adding that weapons of mass destruction in the hands of terrorists or states that support terrorists would represent a mortal danger to the whole world.

Meanwhile, Powell pointed out that Iraq also has a responsibility now to avert a military confrontation.

The UN inspectors, by contrast, continued their search for alleged prohibited weapons on Monday by visiting another 10 sites. But no results were released immediately.

　　BRITAIN TO SEND TROOPS

British Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon said Monday that Britain will send a land force of about 30,000 troops to the Gulf area in a bid to beef up the military presence.

The deployment, which was announced by Hoon in the House of Commons, will take place in the coming weeks and will offer the "necessary" group of forces for the possible war.

The troops include the army's First Armored Division, the "Desert Rats" Seventh Armored Brigade and a brigade of parat roopers. Some 120 battle tanks and 150 fighting vehicles will be also deployed alongside the troops.

Hoon said that a decision to resort to force to solve the current crisis has not been taken finally, nor is such a decision imminent or inevitable, but added at the same time that the deployment on this scale is "no ordinary measure."

He did not specify where the troops will be deployed.

　　COUNTRIES CALL FOR PEACEFUL SOLUTION

Despite efforts by the Unites States and its steadfast ally, many other countries voiced their strong opposition to any war in the Gulf region.

German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said on Monday that Germany could not support military action against Iraq because anywar in the region would generate "disastrous consequences."

He said at the UN Security Council Meeting that Berlin firmly opposes the use of force in dealing with the Iraq case, fearing possible negative consequences.

Fischer's words were echoed by his French counterpart Dominiquede Villepin, who said nothing could justify an immediate military attack on Iraq.

"If war is the only way to solve this problem, we are going down in a dead-end," De Villepin said at a news conference.

Osama al-Baz, political adviser to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, warned on Monday that US attempts to topple Iraqi President Saddam Hussein would set a serious precedent.

"If the United States is seeking, through its campaign against Iraq, to overthrow the regime in power, that would set a serious precedent," Osama al-Baz said.

Meanwhile, the ruling Workers Party from Brazil Monday condemned the possible military intervention in Iraq and called on its sympathizers to participate in a world campaign against the war.

　　INSPECTION HALFWAY DONE

Head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Mohamed ElBaradei said he plans to report to the UN Security Council on Jan. 27 that their inspection work in Iraq are only in its midcourse.

The comments were made after ElBaradei met with Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou in Athens. He was accompanied by UN chief weapons inspector Hans Blix.

Blix said that they could not "close the dossier" as there is no enough evidence to report to the council.

The important thing is to carry on a continuous inspection from now on, Blix said, adding that providing "smoking gun" of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq is a long process.

Meanwhile, Blix denied the conclusion that Iraq does have such weapons. "We do not say that they are guilty," Blix said. "We do not say they have weapons of mass destruction."

(Xinhua News Agency January 21, 2003)