Iraq, al-Qaida not linked, U.N. finds

The White House says documents like this from Iraq's pre-1991 nuclear weapons efforts show Saddam Hussein's government had concealed weapons programs. But the U.N. interprets the find as proof that Iraq's nuclear weapons effort was not revived.

DAFNA LINZER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

UNITED NATIONS -- The U.N. terrorism committee has found no evidence linking Iraq to al-Qaida and did not investigate Bush administration claims of such ties, officials said Thursday.
The terrorism committee completed a draft report charting efforts by countries to track and shut down Osama bin Laden's operations. The report notes success in the war on terrorism stemming from the arrests of some top al-Qaida figures.

But it also notes the group has been able to reconstitute support and benefit from loopholes in order to continue acts of terror worldwide.

Nowhere in the 42-page draft is there any mention of Iraq or claims that it served as a safe haven for al-Qaida.

"Nothing has come to our notice that would indicate links between Iraq and al-Qaida," said Michael Chandler, the committee's chief investigator.