WASHINGTON – Excerpts from a letter written by Iraqi Lt. Gen. Amer al-Saadi to chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix, who ordered Iraq to begin destroying its Al Samoud 2 missiles and their components by Saturday:
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"I would like to inform you of ... our acceptance in principle of your request despite our belief that the decision to destroy [the missiles] was unjust and did not take into consideration the scientific facts regarding the issue."
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"The timing of this request seems to us to be one with political aims."
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"In order to establish a framework and timetable and other technical and procedural criteria required for implementation, we suggest dispatching a technical team urgently for this purpose."
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