Saddam’s palaces ‘must be open to inspectors’

UN weapons inspectors insisted on the right to roam freely around Saddam Hussein’s palaces and other suspect sites as they opened talks yesterday with the Iraqis on logistics for a possible return to Baghdad.

Chief inspector Hans Blix, leading the closed-door meetings with an Iraqi delegation, said the inspectors were operating under the assumption they would be able to go anywhere if they redeploy to Iraq for a fresh assessment of the country's nuclear, biological and chemical programs.

Although Saddam pledged unconditional access to sites across Iraq, Baghdad has made clear it opposes any UN resolutions seeking to broaden and toughen the inspection regime.