SA: Downer warns Iraq not to engage in stunts or risk war

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SA: Downer warns Iraq not to engage in stunts or risk war

ADELAIDE, Dec 23 AAP - Iraq must not engage in any stunts if it wants to avoid militaryconflict, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said today.

Mr Downer said ridding Iraq of any weapons of mass destruction was a task that mustbe taken seriously.

"They (Iraq) would be wise not to get into any sort of stunts at all," Mr Downer toldreporters in Adelaide today.

"This is a profoundly serious situation for Iraq and for the international community.

"There is a real risk of conflict.

"Iraq really needs to contemplate the seriousness of the situation and if they moveahead now and declare what capabilities they have and they allow for those capabilitiesto be destroyed then that guarantees that conflict will be avoided.

"If they continue to resist the United Nations, they play ducks and drakes with theinternational community, then I am sorry to say that conflict becomes all the more inevitable."

Iraq today said it had no weapons of mass destruction to hide and the United Stateswas welcome to send in CIA agents to direct UN inspectors to any suspect sites.

AAP la/ldj/sb

KEYWORD: IRAQ DOWNER