IRAQ scrapped six more banned al-Samoud 2 missiles and three warheads yesterday, and UN inspectors searched for bombs capable of delivering biological weapons Baghdad says were destroyed and buried.

IRAQ’s deputy oil minister warned yesterday that Iraq would take up arms to protect its oil wealth and predicted that a US-led invasion could push oil to $70 a barrel.

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.