Iraq and al-Qaida part of same picture, says Straw

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Ewen MacAskill and Richard Norton-Taylor Monday January 6, 2003 The Guardian

Jack Straw, the foreign secretary, will today soften up British public opinion for war in the Gulf by making a direct link for the first time between Iraq and terrorist groups such as al-Qaida.

His assertion comes at the start of a week that will see preparations for war intensify. The defence secretary, Geoff Hoon, is to end months of speculation by informing the Commons this week of the mobilisation of British forces.

In a speech to British ambassadors in London this morning, Mr Straw will claim that terrorist groups such as Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida and rogue states such as Iraq are "part of the same picture".

Despite determined efforts by the US administration since September 11, the CIA and other intelligence services have failed to find any connection between al-Qaida or any other terrorist group and the Iraqi president, Saddam Hus sein. But Mr Straw will say that terrorist groups could in future secure biological, chemical or nuclear weapons from rogue states.

-- Anonymous, January 06, 2003

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