Hussein tells U.N. Iraq has no nukes

UNITED NATIONS -- Saddam Hussein told the United Nations in a speech read Thursday by his foreign minister that Iraq is free of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons.\nIt was the first comments attributed to the Iraqi leader since Iraq's surprise announcement this week that it would accept the unconditional return of international weapons inspectors nearly four years after they left. The decision, which followed a tough speech on Iraq last week by President Bush, has divided the major powers on the U.N. Security Council.\n"Our country is ready to receive any scientific experts, accompanied by politicians you choose to represent any one of your countries, to tell us which places and scientific installations they would wish to see," Foreign Minister Naji Sabri told the world body, quoting the Iraqi president.\n"I hereby declare before you that Iraq is clear of all nuclear, chemical and biological weapons," Sabri said, further quoting Saddam.\nThe speech heavily criticized the United States and Bush for trying to link Iraq in some way to the tragedy of Sept. 11.\nIt charged that "the American propaganda machine, along with official statements of lies, distortion and falsehood" was being used for "inciting the American public against Iraq, and pushing them to accept the U.S. administration's schemes of aggression as a fait accompli."\nIn the speech, Iraq called on the United Nations to help protect its sovereignty in the face of possible U.S. military action.\nAnd it charged that the United States was working in concert with Israel and was trying to control the Middle East oil supply.\n"The U.S. administration wants to destroy Iraq in order to control the Middle East oil and consequently control the politics as well as the oil and economic policies of the whole world," the foreign minister said.