FORMER UN chief weapons inspector Hans Blix believes that Iraq destroyed most of its weapons of mass destruction 10 years ago, but kept up the appearance that it had them to deter a military attack.

Former UN chief weapons inspector Hans Blix believes that Iraq destroyed most of its weapons of mass destruction 10 years ago.

A former UN weapons inspector has released a new book in which he accuses President Bush of illegally invading Iraq and calls for “regime change” in the United States at the next election.

UN inspectors had many questions and leads to pursue on chemical and biological weapons in Iraq when their searches were suspended just before the US-led invasion, chief inspector Hans Blix said in a new report today.

THE United Nations has asked for a fresh report from its chief weapons inspector Hans Blix as it considers sending teams back to Iraq.

The UN Security Council has asked chief weapons inspector Hans Blix to brief members next week as the US fielded its own disarmament teams inside Iraq and Secretary-General Kofi Annan pressed for UN experts to return as quickly as possible.

Iraq today invited chief UN weapons inspectors Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei to visit Baghdad at the “earliest suitable date” to speed up joint cooperation on outstanding disarmament issues, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The United States has rejected out of hand a proposal by Chile to give Saddam Hussein a last chance to disarm peacefully, leaving no compromise in sight and casting further doubt on any United Nations backing for war.

IRAQ will send a report on its disposal of VX nerve agent to chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix today and another report on anthrax a few days later, a diplomatic source said.

A MIXED report from UN chief weapons inspector Hans Blix yesterday left the major powers more divided than ever on US plans to launch a war against Iraq within a short time.

Tony Blair's hopes of a United Nations mandate for war appeared slimmer than ever tonight after the French, Russians and Germans said they would not let it pass and the chief weapons inspector claimed there had been "proactive" cooperation by the Iraqis.

United Nations weapons inspectors stepped up the destruction of banned missiles today, returning to a military compound to supervise the disposal of six Al Samoud 2 rockets, an Iraqi official said.

Iraq said it would destroy four Al Samoud 2 missiles today, as ordered by UN weapons inspectors.

THE United States last night insisted that if Iraq obeys UN orders to destroy its ballistic missiles, the move will still leave Baghdad far short of UN demands and not stop the march toward a possible war.

Chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix said tonight he will change his critical assessment of Iraq’s disarmament based on the country’s decision to destroy its Al Samoud 2 missiles.

Russia warned today that it might veto the Anglo-American war resolution before the sharply divided UN Security Council. But Pakistan – a Muslim nation that could be a key swing vote – signalled growing support for Washington.

Iraq’s decision to begin destroying its Al Samoud 2 missiles confirms that UN weapons inspections are working, French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin said today.

A Security Council meeting on Iraq ended in bitter dispute today with council members unable to agree on basic issues such as a timetable for weapons inspectors to report next to the council.

There were indications from Baghdad tonight that Saddam Hussein is prepared to obey UN instructions and destroy his al Samoud missiles.

Iraq has still not committed to disarming, the chief UN arms inspector said as the deeply divided Security Council prepared to discuss a draft resolution that would authorise war against Saddam Hussein.

IRAQ has stepped up efforts to clarify outstanding issues about its weapons programmes, but there is still no evidence that Saddam Hussein has decided to disarm, chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix said last night.

Iraq has stepped up efforts to clarify outstanding issues about its weapons programmes but there is still no evidence that Saddam Hussein has decided to disarm, chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix said tonight.

Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein says he would rather die than leave his country, dismissing suggestions by US and Arab leaders that he could go into exile to avoid war.

IN a new sign of Iraqi co-operation with UN arms inspectors, Baghdad yesterday disclosed it had found documents relating to the disposal of weapons of mass destruction in 1991 and to an R-400 bomb, chief inspector Hans Blix said yesterday.

UN chief weapons inspector Hans Blix yesterday said Iraq must begin destroying its Al-Samoud missiles by Saturday, rejecting Baghdad’s bid for more time to hold technical talks.

IRAQ has withheld a decision on a United Nations order to start destroying its Al Samoud 2 missile programme by the end of the week, but said yesterday that it is “serious about solving this”.

Iraq is studying a UN order to destroy its Al Samoud 2 missile programme, but has made no decision, the chief Iraqi liaison to the UN inspectors said today.

TONY Blair’s recent TV interview with Jeremy Paxman revealed much about the basis of US-UK policy and why the vast majority of people throughout the world (including many of the citizens of these countries) are totally opposed to war in Iraq.

UN arms inspectors conducted a private interview with an Iraqi scientist yesterday and scoured 13 suspect weapons sites across Iraq.

IN line with other European markets, the ISEQ index closed the day higher, rising 16.11 points at 3886.33.

WITH the UN Security Council and the NATO alliance still riven

The United Nations’ nuclear weapons expert, preparing to give a crucial report to the UN Security Council today, said inspections should continue for months because “we are moving forward”.

International missile experts found that an Iraqi missile exceeded the maximum 93-mile range allowed under United Nations resolutions, US and Russian officials have said.

The chief UN arms controllers landed in Baghdad today for a new round of crucial talks with Iraqi officials. As global pressure mounted on Iraq, they expected quick concessions on everyday issues and demanded much more evidence on the tougher questions of leftover Iraqi weapons.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell’s presentation to the UN Security Council has led to forceful calls that Iraq quickly provide more details of its weapons programmes.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell is continuing his submission to the United Nations Security Council that Washington has evidence that Iraq is trying to make weapons of mass destruction.

The chief of the UN nuclear agency today said any new visit to Baghdad by himself or Hans Blix had to be linked to major concessions by the Iraqis.

UNITED NATIONS weapons inspectors have seen no sign of increased co-operation from Iraq since they handed in their report to the UN Security Council on Monday, chief weapons inspector Hans Blix said yesterday.

FEARS that America is set to declare war on Iraq without awaiting UN approval have been further fuelled

The UN chief weapons inspector told the Security Council today that Iraq has still not accepted the need to disarm – a statement that kept the White House firmly on the war path.

The chief United Nations arms inspectors and officials in Baghdad today agreed on practical steps to greater Iraqi cooperation with the UN disarmament programme.

The chief UN arms inspectors arrived in Baghdad today for urgent talks with Iraqi officials, bearing a long list of questions about Iraq’s weapons programmes and a demand for more “active co-operation” from Saddam Hussein’s government.

UNITED NATIONS weapons chief Hans Blix said yesterday Iraq must prove that it has destroyed banned weapons and let its scientists answer questions freely.

Chief United Nations inspector Hans Blix says he will tell Iraq the situation is “very dangerous”, but it can still prevent war by providing new evidence about its nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programmes.