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US Secretary of State Colin Powell said Friday that his country gave Iraq weeks before it decides whether Baghdad is complying with the UN requirements to fully give up weapons of mass destruction.
"We are talking weeks," Powell told CNN after hearing reports from UN weapons inspectors.
He said that it was essential to continue to keep up pressure on Baghdad by making clear that Iraq would risk military attack if it does not comply.
"There is still a chance for peace but we will not realize that peace if we ever back off on the pressure, if we ever make it look like we do not have the will to take this to conflict if necessary to disarm Iraq," he added.
Chief arms inspector Hans Blix gave the UN Security Council a mixed report on his work in Iraq.
(Xinhua News Agency February 15, 2003)
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