Iraqi parliament rejects UN resolution

“The council suggests rejection of the UN resolution,” parliament’s resolution said.

It went on to say the “political leadership” should ”adopt what it considers appropriate to defend the Iraqi people and Iraq’s independence and dignity and authorises President Saddam Hussein to adopt what he sees as appropriate expressing our full support for his wise leadership.”

Parliament speaker Saadoun Hammadi asked MPs to vote on the first clause of the resolution by a show of hands and announced it had been accepted unanimously. It was not clear how many members were present.

Hammadi then called for a vote on the second clause referring the matter to Saddam, and again announced unanimous approval. A third vote was held for the entire proposal, and it also was approved unanimously.

Iraq has until Friday to accept or reject the resolution the UN Security Council approved unanimously last Friday.

If it does not, or falters afterward in following the tough provisions of the resolution, the United States and Britain have made clear they will attack Iraq.

In a sign of the way Saddam will go, his elder son Odai had today urged parliament to accept the UN resolution.

Today’s session of parliament was not broadcast live on Iraqi television, leaving Iraqis relying on international radio to follow the parliament session. The opening and the vote were carried live by Al-Jazeera, the Qatari-based Arabic satellite channel. Iraqis cannot receive Al-Jazeera as the government bans satellite dishes.

The UN resolution demands inspectors have unrestricted access to any suspected weapons site and the right to interview Iraqi scientists outside the country and without Iraqi officials present – both issues that could become points of dispute.

Iraq has insisted on respect for its sovereignty, an argument it has used in the past to restrict access to Saddam’s palaces.