WASHINGTON, Nov 18: The United States resumed U-2 surveillance flights over Iraq today while the Clinton Administration and its allies were weighing increased humanitarian aid to Iraq if Saddam Hussein allows US weapons inspectors to return.A US pilot flew a high-altitude surveillance mission over Iraq without incident, said a Pentagon official who spoke on condition of anonymity. ``It's flown and everything went well,'' the official said. Another official said Iraq made no attempt to interfere with the U-2.The flight was the second UN-sponsored U-2 mission by the United States on behalf of international weapons inspections since Saddam threatened to expel US inspectors last month, but the first since he actually kicked the inspectors out of the country last week.President Bill Clinton, meanwhile, called off a trip to the Camp David presidential retreat to consult with his national security advisers on Tuesday on the standoff with Iraq.Iraq first has to let these inspectors back in to do their job. But we're not ruling any options out, including the military one,'' William Richardson, US Ambassador to the United Nations, said today on ABC television's ``Good morning America.''A US proposal to increase aid to Iraq in exchange for a return of the inspectors was described by an official accompanying Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in Pakistan as ``a little carrot'' for Saddam, providing an incentive for him to end the standoff and help his people at the same time.The British and French have been consulted, said the official, who briefed reporters on condition he not be identified.Though still in the exploratory phase, the initiative suggested an attempt by the Clinton Administration to resolve the three-week impasse with Iraq without the use of force.Even so, Clinton stressed that diplomatic efforts to return the inspectors to Iraq must be backed by our strong military capability.''It is essential that those inspectors go back to work,'' he said during a stop on Monday in Wichita, Kansas. The safety of the children of the world depends upon it.''Clinton's four-day tour of the West and West Asia was interrupted repeatedly by developments in the dispute with Iraq over the UN sanctions.In New York, Iraq's UN Ambassador, Nizar Hamdoon, called the proposal a no-starter.'' He said Iraq wants guarantees that the sanctions will be lifted soon because we think that Iraq is eligible for the lifting of the embargo.''And in Morocco, Iraqi deputy prime minister Tareq Aziz said the UN Humanitarian assistance is a ``secondary issue.''It hasn't brought a great deal of improvement for the people of Iraq and it's not going to solve the ordeal of the Iraqi people. So if it happens, there is no objection on the side of Iraq, but that is not the solution.The solution which Iraq is seeking is lifting the sanctions and, secondly, the fair and balanced restructuring of the special commission,'' Aziz said.
