Israel urges US not to delay Iraq strike

ISRAEL is urging US officials not to delay a military strike against Iraq's Saddam Hussein, an aide to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said yesterday.

Israeli intelligence officials have gathered evidence that Iraq is speeding up efforts to produce biological and chemical weapons, said Sharon aide Ranaan Gissin.

"Any postponement of an attack on Iraq at this stage will serve no purpose," said Gissin.