Arms expert to replace Blix as chief inspector

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has named a veteran arms expert as the acting chief weapons inspector to replace Hans Blix, who oversaw a fruitless search for illicit Iraqi weapons and is retiring.

Dimitri Perricos, who has been Dr Blix’s deputy for three years at the UN Monitoring, Inspection and Verification Commission (Unmovic), was named as his replacement.

Dr Blix is retiring after more than three years at the helm of the agency.

Mr Perricos is a technical expert with ample inspection experience who actually led the search on the ground in Iraq for Saddam Hussein’s chemical and biological weapons and nuclear weapons programmes. Dr Blix focused on the diplomatic side with the UN Security Council.

The Greek-born Mr Perricos was an inspector for 28 years with the International Atomic Energy Agency, and moved to Unmovic in 2000, shortly after the Security Council created the commission.

Unmovic remains a subsidiary body of the Security Council but its future is uncertain.

The council has agreed to discuss its mandate at a future date, which has not been set.