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

BRITISH Prime Minister Tony Blair and US President George W Bush were increasingly isolated in their support for war on Iraq last night after UN chief weapons inspector Hans Blix said the Iraqi decision to give up its Al-Samoud missiles was “a very significant piece of real disarmament”.

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

Saddam Hussein apparently moved to cool the war of words between Baghdad and Washington today, saying the Iraqi people should welcome the UN arms inspectors.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell has said he is absolutely sure Iraq still possesses weapons of mass destruction, and he said the White House expects President Saddam Hussein to try to deceive them.

Iraq’s vice president has accused United Nations weapons inspectors of spying for the US and Israel, after a surprise inspection of one of Saddam Hussein’s palaces.

UN inspectors are ready to chase down any mobile bioweapons laboratories, detect underground weapons sites with radar and investigate the aluminium tubes Washington says might help Iraq build a nuclear bomb, team leaders said today.