Iraqi President Saddam Hussein on Monday invited his South African counterpart Thabo Mbeki to visit his war-threatened country.
”We hope to receive a visit to Iraq by President Thabo Mbeki at a time he judges opportune,” Saddam was cited by state television as saying in a meeting here with South Africa’s deputy foreign minister, Aziz Pahad.
”Iraq wants to develop its relations with South Africa in the economic, technical and scientific domains,” said Saddam. Pahad was quoted as saying he delivered a message to Saddam from Mbeki on
”reinforcing relations between the two friendly countries and on (Pretoria’s) desire to reinforce bilateral cooperation.”
The envoy said last month that he was to visit Iraq with the message and reiterated South Africa’s call to the UN Security Council to reach a decision allowing UN arms inspectors to return to Iraq to prevent a new Gulf war.
His visit coincides with an international trade fair in the Iraqi capital. Mbeki has taken a firm stand against a unilateral military assault on Iraq as threatened by the United States over the country’s alleged weapons of mass destruction. In response to the threats, Iraq has launched a diplomatic charm offensive. – Sapa-AFP