No decision yet on Iraq attack, says British PM

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has thrown the ball back into Iraq’s court on whether to have further talks on arms inspectors, but Baghdad said on Wednesday any agreement needed to include an end to US threats against the country.

‘‘The omens don’t look very good frankly,’’ Blair said. ‘‘Is there any point in reviving those negotiations? I don’t know. It seems somewhat unlikely that the Iraqis intend to comply with them.’’

After three rounds of talks this year with Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri, Annan told UN Security Council members on Tuesday that until Baghdad officials indicated they were prepared to allow the arms inspectors back into the country there would be no further talks at his level.

Blair has stood staunchly beside US President George W. Bush since the Sept. 11 attacks, making it difficult to decouple from the US if it did target Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

Blair refused to commit to giving Britain’s Parliament a vote ahead of any military action aimed at Saddam.

Many members of his own party oppose an onslaught against Baghdad and are demanding a say in Parliament.

‘‘Saddam is in breach of all the UN resolutions,’’ Blair said. ‘‘Weapons of mass destruction are an issue. Iraq’s position in relation to weapons of mass destruction is an issue but we have taken no decisions as to how to deal with it.’’