Clinton urges giving weapons inspectors a chance

BLACKPOOL, England -- Former President Clinton urged America and Britain on Wednesday to give U.N. weapons inspections a chance to work in Iraq, saying they should be backed by a tough new resolution from the U.N. Security Council.

He said weapons inspectors had made real progress in uncovering Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction in the 1990s. The Bush administration says inspections have not worked in the past.

"I believe we have to stay at this business until we get all those biological and chemical weapons out of there," Clinton told the annual meeting of the center-left Labor Party in the Blackpool. "If the inspections go forward, perhaps we can avoid a conflict. ... Until they fail we don't have to cross bridges we would prefer not to cross."

"Saddam Hussein, as usual, is bobbing and weaving," Clinton continued. "We should call his bluff."

On Tuesday, U.N negotiators struck a deal with Iraq for the return of inspectors for the first time in four years, but the United States and Britain are demanding a new Security Council resolution authorizing force against Saddam if he fails to comply.

The former president, a frequent visitor to Britain, where he is warmly received, said he backed the tough stance by Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair.

"I appreciate what the prime minister is trying to do in terms of bringing America and the rest of the world to a common position," Clinton said.