81.   Washington has said repeatedly that it does not rule out the use of military force if Iraq refuses to cooperate with U.N. arms monitors.

82.   He also said Iraq had withdrawn its troops from the border and was prepared to continue cooperating with UN arms control monitors.

83.   Top UN inspector Rolf Ekeus in his six-monthly report to the Council on Friday said that Iraq was continuing to defy the arms monitors.

84.   Yemen would pursue efforts with Arab neighbours to persuade Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to let arms monitors back in, SABA quoted the president as saying.