Agence France Presse
The development of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons is the "core objective" of President Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) said Monday.
Unveiling a report by the independent think-tank on Iraq and weapons of mass destruction, IISS director John Chipman said the international community had a "pressing duty" to respond to the regime and its arsenal.
"War sanctions and inspections have reversed and retarded, but not eliminated, Iraq's nuclear, biological and chemical weapons and long-range missile capabilities," Chipman told journalists.
"Nor have the removed Baghdad's enduring interest in developing these capacities," he said. "The retention of WMD (weapons of mass destruction) capacity by Iraq is self-evidently the core objective of the regime."
The IISS is widely respected for its analysis of military power around the world.
Its report, based on available evidence, was released as US President George W. Bush tried to rally international support for a military strike against Baghdad.
Speaking earlier Monday on BBC radio, Chipman said Saddam could have a nuclear weapon in a matter of months but only if he could get his hands on enriched urananium or plutonium from abroad.
"Were he to be able to obtain fissile material from abroad, to steal it or but it in some way, we certainly believe that he has the ability to put together a nuclear weapon very quickly, in a matter of months," he said.
Chipman said it would "take a little longer" for Saddam to be able to arm ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads.
"Until that time, he would have to deliver them from a plane" or through some other means, he said.
Chipman also said Iraq appears to have a stockpile of chemical and biological weapons left over from previous conflicts, as well as the ability to create more.
