By Wendy S. Ross
Washington File White House Correspondent

Washington -- United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan told reporters November 13 that Iraq's Saddam Hussein regime, in a letter to him, had accepted United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441 and would work with it.

Annan announced receipt of the letter as he and President Bush sat down in the Oval Office for talks that were to include Iraq as well as other areas of the world.

Annan said that chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix and his inspection team were to return to Iraq on November 18 to actively begin their work.

"What is important is that the resolution is mandatory, the resolution went into force the moment it was adopted, and the inspectors are going to go there and do their work, and they have to comply. And we will see what happens when they are on the ground," said Annan.

He thanked President Bush for bringing the Iraqi matter back to the United Nations, rather than trying to solve it unilaterally.

The unanimous council decision of November 8, Annan said, "sent a powerful message that the entire international community would like to see the Security Council resolutions implemented."

Bush, in his remarks, thanked Annan for his leadership at the U.N., saying that the U.N. had "stepped up to its responsibilities."

He also made very clear that the U.S.-led campaign against international terrorism is not against any one religion.

"We do not fight a religion," Bush said. "As a matter of fact, by far the vast majority of American citizens respect the Islamic people and the Muslim faith," he said, pointing out that there are millions of peaceful-loving Muslim Americans.

"Some of the comments that have been uttered about Islam do not reflect the sentiments of my government or the sentiments of most Americans," the president said, referring to recent comments by some conservative religious figures in the United States.

"Islam as practiced by the vast majority of people is a peaceful religion, a religion that respects others," Bush said, noting that the United States is a country based on tolerance.

"We respect the faith, and we welcome people of all faiths in America. And we're not going to let the war on terror or terrorists cause us to change our values," the president said.

Annan said he shared Bush's view entirely, pointing out that "every region and people of every faith have also been victims of terrorists. This is a scourge that affects all of us, regardless of region or religion. And we need to stand together to defeat terrorism."

"We need to work to deprive the terrorists of the opportunities by not giving them haven, by not giving them financial and logistical support. And I think the Counter-Terrorism Committee of the Security Council is doing a good job in trying to make sure we all work together on that," the Secretary General said.

Earlier, at the White House noon briefing, Deputy Press Secretary Scott McClellan was asked to comment on news reports that Iraq in its letter to the U.N. secretary general asserted that it has no weapons of mass destruction.

McClellan said he had not yet seen the letter, but noted that "we have heard this before from Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi regime.... The onus continues to be on Saddam Hussein. This is his choice.

"And I would go back through what the regime in Iraq needs to do: Iraq must provide a full accounting of all weapons of mass destruction -- the programs, materials and delivery systems -- within 30 days, that's what the resolution spells out; Iraq also must allow free, unimpeded, unconditional immediate access for weapons inspectors anywhere, any time, to anyone; and Iraq must also allow witnesses to weapons of mass destruction programs to be interviewed outside of the country and to bring their families with them; and Iraq must also stop firing on the U.S. and British aircraft patrolling the no-fly zones."

In addition, he said, the resolution "clearly spells out for the regime in Iraq that any false information or omissions are considered a violation of the resolution and would be considered a further material breach. That's all spelled out in the resolution."

McClellan said the United States government "will work with the U.N. and provide what support we can to the inspectors. We will provide what intelligence we can, as well."

He said it is clear that Iraq does possess chemical and biological weapons. "And what we are working to do right now with the international community, speaking with one voice, is to disarm Saddam Hussein of those weapons of mass destruction. We know that he possesses chemical and biological weapons. And we know that he seeks to acquire nuclear weapons."

Asked what sort of a foundation for cooperation is laid by a statement that these weapons don't exist, McClellan said:

"Well, again, you're asking me to comment about a letter that I have not seen. The resolution, I go back to that, says they have a 30-day time period to disclose all information. So that's what I would refer you back to."