Iraqi expert in UN arms interview

A SENIOR Iraqi official said last night that an Iraqi weapons’ expert had submitted to a private interview with UN arms inspectors – a sign of progress in deadlock over weapons inspections.

Presidential adviser Lieutenant General Amer al-Saadi said that an Iraqi expert the first had submitted to a private, unmonitored interview with the inspectors. Such private interviews have been a key demand of the inspectors.

"One of our scientists is being interviewed alone, as we speak," he said in Baghdad.