"The committee recommends that the leadership reject the (UN) Security Council Resolution 1441 according to the opinion of Iraqi people," Salim Al-Qubaisi, head of the committee, said in an urgent parliamentary session to discuss the resolution on its disarmament.

But the committee also recommended mandating the Iraqi political leadership to adopt whatever decision suitable to defend the Iraqi people, Al-Qubaisi added.

The final recommendation of the 250-member National Assembly would be referred to the all-powerful Revolutionary Command Council(RCC), chaired by President Saddam Hussein.

The emergency session began at 7:00 p.m. local time (1600 GMT) in response to Saddam's call for such a meeting on Sunday, the state-run Iraq TV said in live broadcast.

"The resolution's evil intentions are flagrant and loud in ignoring all the work that has been done in the past years," Parliament speaker Saadoun Hamadi said at the opening of the session.

The UN Security Council on Friday voted unanimously to adopt theUS draft resolution on Iraq seeking a tougher weapons inspection regime to disarm Baghdad.

Iraq has to confirm within seven days after the adoption of the resolution its intention to "comply fully" with its demands and cooperate with UN weapons inspectors.

The resolution 1441 requires Iraq provide, not later than 30 days, a "currently accurate, full and complete" declaration of all aspects of its programs to develop weapons of mass destruction and systems to deliver them.

"Further material breach" of Iraq's obligations would incur "serious consequences," the resolution warned.

The Iraqi News Agency on Saturday quoted "an official source" as saying Iraqi leadership is studying the resolution and a final decision would be announced "in a few days".

"Although the resolution 1441 adopted by the Security Council is bad and unjust, the Iraqi leadership is studying calmly this resolution and will issue its reaction in the next few days," the source said.

(Xinhua News Agency November 12, 2002)