Iraq 'left large gaps in arms declaration'

IRAQ has left large gaps in its arms declaration; is blocking private interviews with scientists, and is balking at U-2 surveillance flights over the whole country, UN weapons inspectors are expected to say today.

Chief UN inspector Hans Blix has given a preview of what he will tell the UN Security Council in statements since he left Baghdad last weekend, saying that Iraq vowed it had no more documents on its past weapons of mass destruction programmes than it submitted to the United Nations on December 7. Mr Blix told reporters that when questions arose about data concerning anthrax, the deadly VX nerve gas or Scud missiles, the Iraqis "simply say there is nothing left of this, and there is no evidence that we can view, there are no more documents." He said he had not been given the go-head to interview Iraqi scientists in private, as the Security Council has authorised, with Iraq sending as many as five minders to every inspector. Mr Blix also has had difficulties getting assurances that Iraq won't shoot at American U-2 spy planes, loaned to the United Nations to survey inspection sites, when they are in the US-British no-fly zones in northern and southern Iraq. Laboratory reports on recently discovered chemical warhead shells, most of them empty, are not yet ready, although few believe they will disclose active toxins.

In issuing their assessment to the UN Security Council today, Mr Blix, in charge of chemical, biological and ballistic teams, and his colleague Mohammed El-Baradei, responsible for nuclear arms programmes, will not be certain if Iraq is rebuilding its banned weapons. But their report will probably bolster US claims that Iraq has violated a key November 8 resolution, No 1441, by still not coming up with requested data in its 12,000-page arms declaration and not actively co-operating with the inspectors in other areas. The United States has already declared Iraq in "material breach" of the November 8 resolution, legal words that can lead to warfare.

But to most Security Council nations, particularly France, Russia and China, permanent members with veto power, the evidence is not conclusive enough to merit war.

Mr Blix and El-Baradei will not themselves draw black and white conclusions or in any way declare a "material breach." Even staunch US ally Britain has been active in trying to persuade the Bush administration that inspectors deserve more time for their disarmament work and that war must wait. Germany, the Security Council president for February, wants another report from the inspectors on February 14. Mr Blix is expected to compliment Iraqi officials for being helpful in setting up for the inspections and allowing the inspectors immediate access to sites they chose to visit.

Mr El-Baradei, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said last week Iraq would get a "satisfactory" grade for its response to questions and requests.