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.