Government has welcomed Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's commitment that the country will respect any action or decision that is taken in compliance with the United Nations (UN) Charter and international law with regard to the UN's inspections into weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

This follows foreign affairs deputy minister Aziz Pahad's weeklong visit to the Gulf nation amid war threats to that country by the United States (US), which accuses the former of developing weapons of mass destruction.

'I was informed by President Hussein of his willingness to unconditionally welcome the UN inspectors back into Iraq and to assist them in the execution of their mandate,' said Mr Pahad in a statement, adding that the deed was the only way to avert armed conflict, which would add to the suffering of the ordinary people of Iraq.

He added that South Africa and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) were committed to ensuring that the issue of weapons of mass destruction was finally dealt with to the satisfaction of everybody concerned. South Africa is the current Chair of NAM.

'This will help normalise relations between Iraq and the international community and enable the lifting of sanctions so that the suffering of the Iraqi people can be brought to an end,' said deputy minister Pahad.

Mr Pahad was received by President Hussein to whom he conveyed a message from President Thabo Mbeki. He also met with Iraqi Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan, Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz, Foreign Minister Naji Sabri, trade minister Mohammed Mehdi Saleh and the minister of electricity Sahban Faisal Mahjoub.

During his visit, deputy minister Pahad officially opened the South African display at the Baghdad International Trade Fair, and stressed the important role that commercial exchanges played in bilateral relations and congratulated those who participated in the Trade Fair with the measure of success that they had already achieved.

'I also want to encourage the broader South African business community to investigate the opportunities offered by the growing Iraqi market and to take advantage of the fact that Iraq appreciates the quality of goods and services produced by South Africa,' Mr Pahad said. -BuaNews