Missile destruction must start by Saturday, says Blix

UN chief weapons inspector Hans Blix yesterday said Iraq must begin destroying its Al-Samoud missiles by Saturday, rejecting Baghdad’s bid for more time to hold technical talks.

"We have set a date for the commencement of the destruction of these missiles and we expect that to be respected," Blix said.

Asked whether there would be any further negotiation with the Iraqis on the missiles' destruction, he responded: "I do not expect that. There will be a discussion about the pace in which the destruction will take place," he said.

Last Friday, Blix ordered Baghdad to begin destroying the missiles, their warheads, engines, launchers, guidance and control systems and numerous other components by Saturday, after concluding they exceeded the 90-mile range set for Iraqi rockets by a Security Council resolution.

Their destruction would be a blow to Iraq which says the missile was designed to stay within the permitted range as the country prepares for a possible US-led invasion.

But if Baghdad fails to destroy the missiles, the US and Britain could argue Iraq was not co-operating with the United Nations and that war is justified.

Iraq had written to Blix last week proposing technical talks in Baghdad on the missile's capabilities, but Blix's latest comments appeared to rule out the possibility.

In Baghdad, a key official said Iraq was studying the matter, but would soon make a decision, hinting his government would be pragmatic. "It is being studied very carefully and the channels (with UN arms inspectors) are still open between us and we will come up with a decision quite soon," said General Amer al-Saadi, top adviser to President Saddam Hussein.

"This is a technical issue and it is not actually considered a hurdle," al-Saadi later told an Iraqi satellite television station. "If the goal is to continue on the legal path, which is through the Security Council, Iraq has no objections to deal with the issue realistically."