
BAGHDAD, Oct 31: Iraq today said it was breaking off all cooperation with the UN Special Commission UNSCOM charged with disarming Iraq with immediate effect, a statement from the Iraqi leadership said.
Iraq has 8220;broken off all cooperation with UNSCOM and its chief and stopped all its activities in Iraq, including the monitoring operations8217; from today,8221; the statement said.
However, it said the decision 8220;does not concern the International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA which can continue its activities8230; On condition that they are totally independent from those of UNSCOM.8221;
The statement follows a meeting of the Revolutionary Command Council and the ruling Baath Party leadership chaired by President Saddam Hussein.
It also comes after the UN Security Council reached agreement yesterday on a letter aimed at persuading Iraq to resume cooperation with the UN weapons inspectors.