http://news.independent.co.uk/world...sp?story=375115

Benn meets Saddam for filmed interview
By Hamza Hendawi in Baghdad
03 February 2003

Tony Benn met Saddam Hussein in Baghdad yesterday in an attempt to avert war in the Gulf.

During an interview filmed by an Iraqi crew, the former Labour MP and veteran peace activist said he asked President Saddam whether Iraq possessed any weapons of mass destruction. He said he also asked him whether Iraq had links to the al-Qa'ida terrorist network. Iraq has repeatedly denied both accusations.

Mr Benn would not disclose the President's reply but he said the interview would be broadcast on television "within the next day or two". The meeting was filmed by a television crew from the Iraqi presidency and Mr Benn said it would be available to any television station that pledged to show it in its entirety. He added: "I do believe that it is possible to halt the march to war."

Mr Benn said he did not travel to Baghdad as a guest of the Iraqi government, adding that he paid for his air fare and hotel. Mr Benn, who met President Saddam in 1990 in a similar attempt to avert war, said before the meeting: "The purpose is to explore the prospects for peace.

'That is why I went in 1990, and it is important now when you hear America speaking about weeks, not months. We hear President Bush and Tony Blair every day but we don't hear from Saddam Hussein."

* Greece's Foreign Minister said yesterday he believed there was a chance for peace in the Gulf. George Papandreou, who was in Syria for talks with President Bashar al-Assad, said: "There is a chance, but for this to become a reality it means the full co-operation of Iraq with the UN." (AP)