Iraq keeps UN guessing on destruction of missiles

IRAQ kept the United Nations waiting yesterday for word of whether it would begin destroying banned rockets by tomorrow’s deadline, as the chief arms inspector prepared to declare results on disarmament “very limited”, according to a draft report obtained by media.

As the UN Security Council, under intense pressure from both hawks and doves, began discussing a US-British-Spanish draft resolution that lays the groundwork for war against Iraq, US President George W Bush predicted Iraq would destroy its al-Samoud 2 rockets, but said they were the tip of the iceberg.

“The only question at hand is total, complete disarmament, which he (Iraqi President Saddam Hussein) is refusing to do,” Mr Bush said.