CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The chief U.N. weapons inspector just spoke in Brussels before reporters. We're talking about Hans Blix. Traveling with him, our own Richard Roth. Richard joins us live by phone. Good morning -- Richard.</s>RICHARD ROTH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. The chief U.N. weapons inspector, Hans Blix, is starting a blitz through Europe en route to Baghdad later in the week. The chief inspector telling journalists here, where he met at the European Union with officials from more than 15 countries, that it is -- quote -- "a very tense and dangerous time now." A message he wanted to send to Baghdad. We don't often hear that kind of language from Hans Blix who just two days ago met with Condoleezza Rice, the U.S. National Security Adviser. Blix telling reporters here on this side of the ocean that he's going to be nobody's pet.</s>HANS BLIX, CHIEF U.N. WEAPONS INSPECTOR: Neither in the European pockets nor in the American pockets or anybody else's pockets. We are set up by the whole Security Council. We report to the whole Security Council, not only to the key five (ph), but the whole. And I briefed the E10, this -- the other 10 members of the council frequently, and we have never been criticized for being siding with anybody. And we make sure that our operations are...</s>ROTH: That's Blix denying in any way that he is going to be used by the United States as a pretext for war. He did say that -- quote -- "if the U.S. was to walk in, that's the end of inspections" -- Carol.</s>COSTELLO: Very interesting, Richard Roth reporting live for us from Brussels. Much more from Richard later on CNN. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Hans Blix Headed to Iraq Sunday