BBC - Iraq dismisses U.S. warnings

October 11, 2001 Posted: 6:54 AM EDT (1054 GMT)

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Iraq has brushed aside warnings from the United States not to use the current situation to launch attacks.

In a return letter, Iraq described the U.S. threats -- passed on over the weekend to its ambassador to the United Nations in New York -- as naive, silly and arrogant.

The unusual episode started when U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, John Negroponte, showed up at the residence of Iraqi U.N. Ambassador Mohammed Aldouri unannounced. The two diplomats rarely meet.

According to the Iraqi Ministry of Information, the U.S. ambassador delivered a letter in which the United States warned Baghdad not to use the current world situation to stage a military campaign.

"If you used force against your neighbors or Israel or the Kurdish side or any other part of the Iraqi people, then we will reply very strongly to defeat you," the U.S. ambassador warned Baghdad, according to the Iraqis.

Iraq was also warned not to use any chemical or biological weapons, Iraqi officials said.

In its response, Iraq said none of the actions the United States warned about are on Iraq's agenda.

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2001