"It should be obvious that this pattern of systematic holes andgaps in Iraq's declaration is not the result of accidents, editing oversight or technical mistakes," US Ambassador John Negroponte told reporters after emerging from a briefing by top UN weapons inspectors.

"These are material omissions that, in our view, constitute another material breach," he added.

Negroponte reaffirmed his support for UN weapons inspectors and hoped that the Security Council would be briefed "more regularly and frequently."

Chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix told the Security Council that the Iraqi report contains "little new substantive information" and lacks "supporting evidence."

But Blix added that inspectors at this point is "neither in a position to confirm Iraq's statements, nor in possession of evidence to disprove it."

He later told reporters that their next briefing to the Security Council was expected to take place in early January.

Under the resolution 1441, the Security Council may consider using military force to disarm Iraq if it is determined that Iraq is in "material breach."

Before attending the briefing on Thursday morning, British Ambassador Jeremy Greenstock said he was "deeply disappointed" with the 12,000-page Iraqi report and that Iraq has missed another opportunity accorded by the resolution 1441.

The accusations of Negroponte and Greenstock were quickly refuted by Iraq's deputy UN Ambassador Mohammed S. Ali as "groundless."

"Iraq's declaration is complete and comprehensive and the accusations of US and Britain are groundless," he said, adding, "The US has made it clear that the issue is not disarmament, but to change the legitimate government of Iraq."

"Iraq is not in a material breach as the ambassador of the United States of America has said right now. This is the interpretation of the United States and does not represent the interpretation of the whole international community."

His statements were echoed by Syrian Ambassador Mikhail Wehbe, who told reporters that he found "no problem" on the Iraqi side.

On the instruction of the Syrian government, Wehbe said he attended the consultations but boycott the discussions in protest of being given an edited version of the Iraqi report. Unlike the five permanent council members, Syria and other nine none-permanent members received only the edited version.

Russian Ambassador Sergey Lavrov reiterated that under the resolution 1441, it is the Security Council, not any individual government, that determines whether Iraq is in "material breach."

(Xinhua News Agency December 20, 2002)