Iraq denies involvement in US suicide attacks
By Reuters, 09/19/01
BAGHDAD, Sept 19 -- Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri denied in an interview published on Wednesday that Iraq was involved in last week's suicide hijack attacks on New York and Washington.
"The United States, Britain and Western nations and the world know that Iraq has nothing to do with the attacks against American interests," Sabri told al-Iqtisadi (Economist) weekly.
Earlier, unidentified U.S. officials had said that Mohammed Atta, one of the suspected hijackers of one of two aircraft that crashed into the World Trade Center, had met Iraqi intelligence in Europe.
Senior U.S. officials, such as Vice President Dick Cheney had said there was no evidence linking Iraq to the attacks that left about 6,000 people dead or missing.
Iraq has not yet responded to the reports of a meeting between Atta and its intelligence apparatus. It has said "unfair" U.S. foreign policy invited the attacks.
"It is unreasonable for the United States to impose on the world its definition of terrorism and include any armed action that targets its interest, policy, injustice..." Sabri said.
But Baghdad has sent letters of condolence to U.S. personalities opposed to the U.N. sanctions on Iraq, which have severely damaged the country's economy and standard of living.
On Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz sent a letter expressing sympathy with the victims to Voices in the Wilderness, a Chicago-based Charity.
Aziz, a top aide to President Saddam Hussien, sent a similar letter to former U.S. attorney general Ramsey Clark, according to the Iraqi News Agency's website.
