Written question asked by Llew Smith (Labour) on Tuesday, 15 July 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 1 September 2003. It was answered by Denis MacShane (Labour) on Monday, 1 September 2003 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his statement of 15th July, on Iraq, what the source was of his statement that Saddam Hussein expelled UNSCOM inspectors at the end of 1998.

Answer: Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his statement of 15 July 2003, on Iraq, what the source was of his statement that Saddam Hussein expelled UNSCOM inspectors at the end of 1998. [126905] Mr. MacShane: Throughout 1998 Iraq maintained an increasingly obstructive attitude towards UNSCOM. Faced with mounting obstruction and harassment which made it impossible for them to carry out their mandate, UNSCOM had no alternative but to withdraw. They were thus effectively forced out of Iraq by Saddam Hussein's regime.

Secondary information